MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. - The series of storms created messy conditions for yesterdays commute and today we learned that some of it could be avoided if drivers would just pay attention to the signs.
Brianna Picazo lives just outside of Salinas and said the storm yesterday and its damage was not a first for her.
"The road kind of narrows down and you can't really get through, its like a swimming pool, it fills up," she said.
CalTrans and other public works had to close Highway 101, forcing drivers to find an alternate route.
Maia Carroll, the Monterey County Public Information Officer, told me over the phone that Monterey County Public Works responded quickly wherever they were needed.
"We were able to get out to the roads that were flooded, we were able to get up signs, we were able to reroute traffic, as needed, and manage the situation very well," Carroll said.
Signs were put in place to warn people about road closures and hazards ahead but public works said they problem was people would move them and just drive right through.
Picazo said her dad has had to help people who ignored the signs on Hartnell Road.
"I've actually seen people that have just been stuck there and try to call from help. They are just in the middle, they have nowhere to go."
Carroll added that its important for people to know that signs are posted for a reason.
"We really want people to be sensitized to potential dangers, to being stranded on the roadway. So mind the signs they are there for their protection."
That message is heard loud and clear from this young driver.
"I've seen people that have already gotten stuck, I don't want to have to deal with it myself," Picazo told me.
