A steady Thursday downpour made for slick driving conditions and
prompted flood advisories Thursday, as Gilroy and surrounding areas
were soaked by heavy rain for the seventh day in a row. The
California Highway Patrol responded to a mudslide and boulder in
the roadway just east of Casa de Fruta Parkway at 5:42 a.m. today.
Caltrans was able to clear all lanes by 7 a.m. The traffic hazard
was just one of 11 traffic hazards or accidents reported since 1:10
am today in the Gilroy-Hollister area by the CHP.
A steady Thursday downpour made for slick driving conditions and prompted flood advisories Thursday, as Gilroy and surrounding areas were soaked by heavy rain for the seventh day in a row.
The City of Gilroy issued a flood advisory warning 9:30 p.m. Thursday night and called it off at about midnight, according to City Public Information Officer Joe Kline.
According to Kline, if creek levels continue to rise substantially, flooding may occur in areas around the Gilroy Sports Park and South of Luchessa Avenue.
The California Highway Patrol responded to a mudslide and boulder in the roadway just east of Casa de Fruta Parkway at 5:42 a.m. today. Caltrans was able to clear all lanes by 7 a.m. The traffic hazard was just one of 11 traffic hazards or accidents reported from 1:10 am to 10 a.m. today by the CHP.
Today’s incidents followed eight local traffic accidents on U.S. Highway 101 by 1:45 p.m. Thursday. Gilroy firefighters also monitored Uvas Creek throughout Thursday and other gauges in preparation for possible flooding.
The Gilroy Police Department responded to a rollover accident involving two victims shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday on Hecker Pass Road near the golf course.
The two victims on scene refused medical attention, according to GPD Sgt. Wes Stanford.
“It looks like they had minor injuries, but nothing that required transportation to the hospital,” he said.
Stanford describe the incident as a single car accident that was partially equipment related and partially weather related. The vehicle rolled over on its side, he said, but personnel were able to flip it back over.
“It was minor injuries, and no hospitalization required,” he said.
Thursday’s rain
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, 0.92 inches of rain had fallen on Gilroy, according to measurements provided by the Gilroy Fire Department Chestnut Station. The total added to the 0.55 inches that soaked the city in the previous 24 hours, GFD firefighter Heinz Maibaum said.
Silva’s Crossing, which runs across Miller Avenue between Santa Teresa Boulevard and Uvas Park Drive, had been closed since Monday due to the impending storms.
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook and a flood advisory for Santa Clara County Thursday morning.
Just after 5 p.m., Maibaum said firefighters would begin hourly checks of a water level marker at the West Luchessa Avenue bridge as well as Uvas Creek.
The CHP reported roadway flooding along U.S. Highway 152 near Frazier Lake Road. As of 4 p.m., the Uvas Reservoir, located 11 miles northwest of Gilroy, was 110.3 percent filled, according to the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
By Friday afternoon, Gilroy’s monthly rain total topped 5 inches, with the majority of the precipitation falling within the last week.
Maibaum said his fire crew assisted on two traffic accidents along Highway 101, but there were no major weather-related incidents within Gilroy to his knowledge.
“I think drivers started to slow down,” he said. “We’re hoping everyone stays safe and drives at a safe speed.”
CHP Officer Jaime Rios said highway patrol units had “a very busy day to say the least.”
Officers responded to multiple spinouts and reports of cars losing control on slippery roadways, he said.
“Our guys have been running from call to call,” Rios said.
More rain was expected through the weekend, with mostly sunny conditions not emerging until Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
