One person dead after car crashes into tree near Monterey

A deadly car crash Tuesday morning between the Holman Highway and Carpenter Street exits on Highway 1 backed up traffic for more than four hours. The cause of the crash is under investigation, but CHP is warning drivers to be extra careful in the June Gloom.

Officers said the driver swerved off the highway around 6 a.m. and hit a tree head on.

“The way the vehicle landed on the tree, it was caved in from the rooftop,” CHP Officer Jessica Madueno said.

Officers said it’s important to slow down when the roads are wet and it’s foggy like Tuesday morning.

“Slow down,” Madueno said. “Your brakes aren’t always going to give you the stopping time that you need for anything that’s ahead of you.”

Drew Swartz, who works for Carmel Towing and Garage, drove by the crash on his way to work. ACentral Coast native, he’s dealt with June Gloom his entire life and wants people to be extra careful, especially during the morning commute.

“People are half asleep, driving fast in the morning and trying to get to where they need to go,” Swartz said. “It’s definitely a tragedy, you know.”

The National Weather Service said it started drizzling overnight, especially near the coast, leaving a lot of moisture on the ground.

“The ceilings were pretty low, and like I said, anytime you get up one of the hills, you go right into the clouds and you’re in the soup at that point,” NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Brian Garcia said.

Garcia said over the past few years, the drought has made it a little less gloomy during the summer months, but added there’s a bit of a reversal going on.

“This summer is starting to change back to more of normal type patterns,” Garcia said.

And that actually meant foggy, wet mornings before June even got going.

“We actually started seeing it in May. We called it May Gray,” Garcia said.

But no matter the month, it’s always important to rotate tires, check brakes, and take extra care out on the road.

UPDATE 6/7/16 11:57 AM: CHP confirms one person is dead after a crash on Highway 1, just past the Holman Highway 68 connector early Tuesday morning. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Officers said no other cars involved.

KION’s Erika Mahoney will have more on how low visibility may have played a factor in this crash and what drivers need to know when getting on the road early in the morning.

PREVIOUS STORY: At least one person is dead, after a car collided with a tree near Monterey Tuesday morning, according to California Highway Patrol.

Officers said it happened just before 6:00 a.m., southbound on Highway 1 just past the Highway 68 connector. The accident backed up traffic for several miles during the morning commute.

Crews are on scene investigating. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.