Watsonville Truck Driver Blamed For Hours-Long Road Closure

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A shutdown of Freedom Boulevard this week near Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley is being blamed on a distracted truck driver from Watsonville.

The Santa Cruz CHP's office said the man was driving a box truck on the busy roadway near Petery Lane early Wednesday afternoon, when he reached over for some snacks in a cooler sitting on the right front floorboard. In the process, the truck veered off the road, overturned and knocked over a telephone pole.

The downed pole caused the hours-long Freedom Boulevard closure, according to the CHP.

"The simple action of reaching for something and diverting your attention away from the road while operating a moving vehicle can be very dangerous and result in unforeseen consequences. This traffic collision was caused by a distracted driver and could easily have been avoided," the CHP said. "We urge drivers to be attentive and cautious for their own safety and for the safety of those they share the road with."

There were no serious injuries reported.