8:15 p.m.Highway 121 in Carneros was closed in both directions for hours Friday due to a multi-vehicle crash.

A southbound diesel truck carrying boulders came around a 40 mile-per-hour corner when it flipped over and slid onto the highway, hitting three vehicles driving in the other direction, said California Highway Patrol Officer Jared Paulson.

The 2:30 p.m. crash occurred west of Duhig Road near the Napa-Sonoma county line. The road remained shut down through Friday’s rush hour, with traffic backed up all the way to Highway 29.

The big rig landed on its left side, facing westbound, having spilled a large load of large rocks onto the highway in the 5400 block of Highway 121, according to the CHP and Register staff at the scene. The boulders also hit the passenger vehicles, Paulson said.

The three passenger vehicles involved in the crash, according to the CHP and Register staff were a Porsche Carrera 4S that had its roof cut off by emergency personnel; a Mitsubishi Montero Sport that landed in a ditch off to the side of the highway; and a four-door Toyota Camry that bust into flames.

Three people — the driver and a passenger of the Porshe Carrera and the driver of the Toyota Camry — were transported by Piner’s Ambulance with moderate to major injuries to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, Paulson said. The injuries appear non-life-threatening, he said.

The victims’ names were not immediately available.

The truck driver and the SUV driver were treated at the scene and released, Paulson said.

Alcohol is not suspected to have played a factor in the crash, Paulson said. The incident remains under investigation.

The speed limit on Highway 121 is 55 miles per hour.

Recommended alternate routes included Highway 37; Ramal Road to Duhig Road for local eastbound drivers; and Duhig to Ramal Road for westbound drivers.

Caltrans crews are repairing a concrete railing that was knocked off during the crash.

Highway 121 is a major commuter route for people living in Sonoma County and working in the Napa area. The crash happened just as people were starting their early Friday afternoon commute home. The crash site was just west of the location of Domaine Carneros Winery.

Both lanes were reopened to traffic just after 8 p.m.



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