The California Highway Patrol temporarily closed Highway 121 outside Schellville Wednesday morning, Sept. 9, after a big rig spilled grapes in the roadway, causing a crash.
From preliminary reports, it is believed the truck was heading north on Highway 121, also known as Highway 12, near Napa Road about 7:45 a.m. as the grape bins fell off the truck into the southbound lane, according to CHP spokesperson Marc Renspurger. One car rear-ended another car in the southbound lane as the drivers attempted to avoid colliding with the bins.
At about 8:30 a.m., CHP advised motorists to avoid the area in an announcement sent via X, formerly known as Twitter.
At 9 a.m., CHP posted an update explaining Highway 121 was closed in Sonoma County from Napa Road to Ramal Road.
Several bins of grapes fell off a big rig truck traveling north on Highway 121 outside Schellville, causing a car crash and subsequent lane closures Sept. 9, 2026. (California Highway Patrol Napa)
CalTrans arrived on scene to clean up the grapes, Renspurger said. Cleaning up the road was essential to avoiding the road becoming slick from the sugary grapes, he said.
CHP announced the road reopened in both directions at 10:35 a.m.
Authorities said no injuries were reported in the incident.
You can reach Staff Writer Kyle Garcia Takata at kyle.garciatakata@pressdemocrat.com.