roadway

Three people were killed late Sunday night on Highway 50 in El Dorado County when the vehicle they were in went off the roadway and hit a tree, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash happened about 11:50 p.m. east of the town of Fresh Pond.

Four people were inside an SUV when the driver missed a curve and caused the vehicle to go about 100 feet down a steep embankment, officers said.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

State Route 89 (Placer County): Work continues on a $70.1 million project from Tahoma to the "Y" junction with State Route 28 in Tahoe City on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore that will upgrade storm water drainage and treatment systems, add curb and gutter, resurface and realign the road, add new left-turn pockets and widen shoulders on a 9-mile stretch of the highway. Completion is expected in fall 2016.

8 p.m. update 8/18/15:

The Walker Fire has now burned 3,715 acres and is now 35% contained. It has been determined that the fire is human caused and is under investigation.

There are 484 firefighters working on the fire along with 4 helicopters, 2 Air tankers, 34 Engines, 10 Crews, 6 Water Tenders, and 4 Dozers.

235 structures remain threatened but none have burned so far.

The Nevada Department of Transportation will begin overnight work to apply a top sealant coating to U.S. 395 between south Carson City and Gardnerville.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

State Route 89 (Placer County): Work continues on a $70.1 million project from Tahoma to the "Y" junction with State Route 28 in Tahoe City on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore that will upgrade storm water drainage and treatment systems, add curb and gutter, resurface and realign the road, add new left-turn pockets and widen shoulders on a 9-mile stretch of the highway. Completion is expected in fall 2016.

The Kyburz Fire is burning about 25 miles west of South Lake Tahoe. It has burned both sides of Highway 50 near and around the American River. It started on Highway 50 near Whitehall.

10 a.m. update 7/27/15:

The Sand Flat Campground has reopened as firefighters can almost total control of the fire lines. They now have 98% of the fire contained.

An updated infrared look at the scene has again reduced the amount burned to 75 acres.

They will not be updating the fire command website after Tuesday as they transfer o a forest Type 4 organization.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

State Route 89 (Placer County): Work continues on a $70.1 million project from Tahoma to the "Y" junction with State Route 28 in Tahoe City on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore that will upgrade storm water drainage and treatment systems, add curb and gutter, resurface and realign the road, add new left-turn pockets and widen shoulders on a 9-mile stretch of the highway. Completion is expected in fall 2016.

9:20 p.m. update 7/8/15

Approximately 141 homes have water and structural damage after Wednesday's flooding in the Stephanie and Johnson Lane areas of Douglas County. It is unknown how many homes may have landscape damage.

No injuries have been reported.

Douglas County has activated a flood hot line for residents who have been affected by the flooding. The number to call is (775) 782-6262 or visit douglasflood2015@gmail.com.

Heavy rains over the past 48 hours have given firefighters the help they needed to contain the Washington Fire burning south of Markleeville.

As of 5 p.m. on July 4, the lightning caused fire was 99% contained after burning 17,790 acres.

Fire crews will continue to construct the remaining fire line and mop up hot spots along the perimeter. A smaller contingency of firefighters and equipment will remain on the incident with the type 3 management organization while still meeting incident objectives as outlined in the transfer of command.

There were just a few residents in attendance at Tuesday's construction kickoff meeting about the City of South Lake Tahoe's Sierra Tract Erosion Control Project, Phases 3 & 4. The project will reduce erosion and sediment discharges in to the Upper Truckee River and Lake Tahoe.

City planners and the contractor were on hand to present the building schedule and explain what residents will experience over the next two building seasons.

The City of South Lake Tahoe is holding a "Kick-off Meeting" for the Sierra Tract Erosion Control Project, Phase 3 and 4, on June 30, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center gym located at 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd.

Construction of the project is scheduled to commence in early July, 2015 and continue throughout the 2015 and 2016 summer construction seasons. The construction contractor for the project will be available to answer questions regarding construction activities and schedule.

Here is a list of road projects around the Lake Tahoe basin.

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County) from the junction with State Route 89 to 2nd Street in South Lake Tahoe: Eastbound motorists can expect alternating lane closures from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday for gas line relocation work. Eastbound motorists can also expect the right shoulder closed at the same location from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for trenching.

Safety for cyclists and pedestrians is a big concern for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD), cycling groups and those enjoying these activities.

In the last six years, 12 people have died in South Lake Tahoe while cycling or walking. In that same time, 42 people were injured while riding bikes on the road while 37 pedestrians were hurt.

One man died after being hit by a wrong way driver early Sunday morning on I580 in Washoe Valley.

Troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol responded to head on crash with multiple secondary crashes on the northbound land near Bellevue Road at 2:15 a.m. on June 14.

34-year-old Jackie Contreras of Carson City was driving his 1995 Honda Accord with the headlights off in a southbound direction in the left northbound lane when he hit a 1999 Ford Expedition.

Here is a list of road projects around the Lake Tahoe basin.

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County) from the junction with State Route 89 to 3rd Street in South Lake Tahoe: Eastbound motorists can expect alternating lane closures around the clock from 7 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Friday for gas line relocation work.

Here is a list of road projects around the Lake Tahoe basin.

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County) from the junction with State Route 89 to 2nd Street in South Lake Tahoe: Eastbound motorists can expect alternating lane closures from 5 p.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday for gas line relocation work.

Here is the Lake Tahoe area road report for the week of May 26-29, 2015:

State Route 89 (El Dorado/Placer County) from Wilson Avenue to Elm Street: Motorists can expect one-way traffic control from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 7 a.m. to noon Friday for bump grinding. Motorists can also expect one-way traffic from McKinney Drive to Madden Creek around the clock from 8 p.m. Tuesday to noon Friday for roadway excavation.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

5/10
11:13 a.m. - Ordinance Violation - Mt. Tallac Rd - DISPATCHED TO AN ORDINANCE VIOLATION (VEHICLES BLOCKING THE ROADWAY). THREE VEHICLES WERE TOWED PURSUANT TO VC 22651(E).

City Councilwoman JoAnn Conner and just one member of the public showed up at the South Lake Tahoe council chambers on Wednesday as Caltrans unveiled their $57 million U.S. Highway 50 Improvement Project. This three year project will have major impacts on businesses and travel from the "Y" to Trout Creek Bridge starting in 2017 so Caltrans officials at the presentation expected more involvement from the community.

A South Lake Tahoe woman was arrested on Wednesday, April 8, on manslaughter charges stemming from a November, 2014 accident on Pioneer Trail where speed and alcohol were involved.

To save lives and educate all Californians, especially young drivers, about the dangers of distracted driving, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Impact Teen Drivers, and more than 200 law enforcement agencies statewide are working together on increased education and enforcement efforts for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April and California Teen Safe Driving Week, the first week of April.

Beaches, parks, trailheads, campgrounds and popular Lake Tahoe viewing areas will start opening on April 1 for the 2015 season, almost two months ahead of schedule.

A mild winter has allowed the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) to start opening the popular areas but they won't be fully opened since they won't be fully staffed until closer to summer.

4:11 pm 3/1/15 Update from Jeff Munson, CarsonNow.org:

Six people were injured in a weather related head-on crash Saturday morning on Highway 50 near Zephyr Cove, a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper said. One woman remains in serious condition.

The accident was reported at 8:48 a.m. and involved a Toyota Camry, occupied by five people, three males and two females, and a Volvo, driven by a Carson City resident.

According to NHP Trooper Daniel Lopez, the Camry was going eastbound on Highway 50 and crossed over into the westbound lane, striking the Volvo head-on, said Lopez.

The weekend's storm brought heavy rains into the Lake Tahoe area which caused heavy boulders to fall onto Highway 50 near Cave Rock on Saturday evening. NDOT maintenance crews removed the boulders from the roadway, some as large as six feet wide.

Starting on Wednesday, February 11, emergency repairs will begin to remove potentially unstable hillside rocks in the same area to prevent future slides. The westbound lanes in the tunnel will be closed as crews work in the area.