Beware Los Gatos Road Near Murrieta And Temecula: Steep Grade Ahead

TENAJA, CA — A dump truck loaded with gravel overturned on a steep stretch of Los Gatos Road near the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, injuring the driver, the California Highway Patrol reported Wednesday morning.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department arrived at the 43200 block of Los Gatos Road just after 8:30 a.m. to find the toppled truck. The driver was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center with unspecified injuries.

As of noon, the De Luz Community Services District was at the scene to get a handle on the 200-foot-long gravel spill, according to CHP Officer Russell Robertson.

The roadway was cleared by 12:30 p.m., according to the CHP.

"A white ford 2-axle dump truck navigating the steep road overturned, injuring the driver," Robertson told Patch. Though the direction of travel was not clear, a preliminary investigation showed the dual-axel truck failed to navigate the turn at the bottom of the steep grade, according to the CHP.

Los Gatos Road connects from unincorporated Murrieta to De Luz, creating a backway to Murrieta at Tenaja Road. The narrow, steep graded hill with a sharp turn at the bottom is the source of frequent crashes, Robertson said.

Just one week ago, a semi-truck driver narrowly avoided going over the side of Los Gatos Road, according to Robertson.

"The hill is at 26 percent grade and the road is narrow, with just one lane in each direction with a sharp turn at the bottom," Robertson said. "There is plenty of signage, including a sign that reads 'steep grade ahead.' Unfortunately, drivers don't pay attention all the time."