YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — A truck driver stranded without his rig and livelihood for nearly three weeks following a catastrophic pipe rupture at the New Colgate Powerhouse in Dobbins has finally been reunited with his truck after Yuba Water Agency teams escorted the vehicle out of the washed-out area on Friday, March 6.

Cesar Garcia was picking up a load at the powerhouse on February 13 when a massive water pipe failure triggered mudslides, forced evacuations, and completely washed out the road leading to where his truck, trailer, and equipment were parked at the bottom of the mountain. Unable to access or move his rig, Garcia was left without his only source of income for nearly three weeks.

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"My truck, trailer, and my equipment was at the bottom of the mountain when it happened," Garcia said. "The fact that I can't work and I'm just using my savings, it's really putting a strain on our family right now."

During that time, Garcia lost an estimated $15,000 in potential earnings while bills piled up and his savings dwindled. "Bills are coming in, and I'm really struggling right now. I really am," he said. "At this point, I don't really know what else to do."

Willie Whittlesey of the Yuba Water Agency expressed sympathy for Garcia's situation. "We feel bad for Cesar, and this incident has impacted all of us, and I feel terrible that he hasn't been able to work, and if I could go down there and drive his truck out personally, I would," Whittlesey said.

On Friday, conditions improved enough for Yuba Water Agency teams to escort the truck out of the washed-out area and return it to Garcia. Lake Francis Road remains closed while final repairs continue. Crews have already removed approximately 1,600 cubic yards of debris from the disaster site — enough to fill about 130 dump trucks — and have completed cleanup of oily debris from Englebright Lake, removing 44 gallons of oil from the water. Officials said water samples show no signs of hazardous chemicals. Teams are expected to spend the coming days removing equipment from the lake, with the boat ramp anticipated to reopen by mid-month.

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