Downed tree in Capitola brings traffic to a halt on Highway 1

A downed tree in Capitola was responsible for a traffic accident that left Highway 1 at a standstill early Wednesday morning.

No one was injured, however traffic was backed up for miles as crews removed the tree and damaged vehicles from the scene.

“Caltrans came out along with fire and removed the tree,” said CHP Officer Cory Chapman. “Traffic was fully stopped for about 10 minutes then moved to the center divide until the tree was completely removed.”

There was one person in each of the two vehicles that crashed into the downed tree. One of those individuals complained of being in pain, but neither suffered severe injuries.

Crews were able to remove the tree quickly because there wasn’t a power line that came down with the tree.

It took about an hour for crews to clear the debris from the scene, with much of the wait due to the need to remove the damaged vehicles from the road.

“With inclement weather you never know what hazards you’ll see on the road,” said Officer Chapman. “Just make sure you drive slow and have a good visual of what’s in front of you.”

Highway 1 between Park and Bay has re-opened as of 5:50 a.m.