3 Adults and 4 Girls Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash on Highway 299 [Willow Creek, CA]

Father Critically Injured After Crash on Highway 299 in Willow Creek

Willow Creek, CA (July 17, 2025) – A devastating crash on Highway 299 near Willow Creek on Monday, July 14, left multiple people injured — including four children — after a Caltrans vehicle reportedly crossed the center line and collided with an SUV. 

According to the California Highway Patrol, the Caltrans driver, traveling eastbound, likely fell asleep and drifted into oncoming traffic, striking a westbound GMC Yukon carrying two adults and four young girls.

The impact flipped the SUV, ejecting a 10-year-old girl and trapping the father inside the vehicle. 

The crash prompted a multi-agency response that stretched emergency resources in rural eastern Humboldt County, where medical care and ambulances are limited.

Two bystanders, MaKayla Coleman and Jessica Harbert, who had been driving just behind the SUV, immediately rushed to the scene to help. 

Coleman attempted to open the Caltrans vehicle door before hearing screams from the SUV and turning her attention to the injured children. 

She unbuckled a 3-year-old hanging upside down in her car seat, helped a 12-year-old escape the back seat, and watched as the mother re-entered the vehicle to rescue the 2-year-old.

Meanwhile, Harbert remained on the phone with 911, guiding others to assist. Even Coleman’s children, ages 6 and 12, helped — calling for help and comforting the injured.

Emergency responders arrived and quickly began triage. Due to limited ambulance availability, multiple victims had to be transported together. 

Three children went in one ambulance; the mother, baby, and Caltrans driver were sent in another. 

The critically injured father, who had to be pulled from the driver’s seat by bystanders, was transported separately for surgery and ICU care.

The 10-year-old, who sustained a fractured vertebra, was airlifted to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Other family members were treated at local hospitals.

Despite the chaos, bystanders like Coleman and Harbert played a vital role in providing initial care, stabilizing the injured, and offering comfort. 

Their swift actions made a life-saving difference on a day marked by tragedy and courage.

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Injured in a Catastrophic Highway Crash? Sweet Lawyers Is Here to Help You Rebuild and Recover

A terrifying crash on Highway 299 near Willow Creek forever changed the lives of one family. A Caltrans vehicle, reportedly driven by an employee who fell asleep at the wheel, veered across the center line and struck a GMC Yukon carrying two adults and four young children.

The impact flipped the SUV, ejected a 10-year-old girl, and left the father pinned behind the wheel. In the chaotic moments that followed, bystanders—MaKayla Coleman and Jessica Harbert—stepped in to provide critical aid, rescuing the children and coordinating with emergency responders.

This tragic incident underscores how quickly lives can be upended by someone else’s negligence. For victims of devastating accidents like this, the physical injuries are just the beginning.

The emotional trauma, medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term recovery needs can place a heavy burden on families.

At Sweet Lawyers, we are committed to helping crash victims and their loved ones pursue justice and financial relief. Our experienced personal injury attorneys understand the complexity and sensitivity of these cases.

We work tirelessly to investigate the facts, protect your rights, and secure the compensation you need to heal and move forward.

Whether you or a family member suffered injuries due to reckless driving, distracted driving, or driver fatigue, you deserve answers — and a team that will stand by your side.

We offer free, no-obligation consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Don’t navigate this overwhelming time alone. Let Sweet Lawyers help you take the next step toward recovery and justice.

👉 Visit Sweetlawyers or call us today to speak with a compassionate member of our legal team.

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