In The News

7-vehicle crash in California included big rigs

By The Trucker News Services
Posted Jun 6th 2008 2:29AM

California_CHP_logo.jpgFREMONT, Calif. — California Highway Patrol officers are continuing to investigate a seven-vehicle crash that injured four people and shut down all south-bound traffic lanes of Interstate 680 in the Fremont area Thursday.

An 18-wheeler hauling 50,000 pounds of foodstuffs turned over on its side in the center median of the heavily traveled highway,  said CHP Officer Steve Creel.

Emergency crews tried to upright the rig about 8 a.m., some three hours after the crash, but the non-perishable food inside made the vehicle too heavy, Creel said.

Crews began off-loading items by hand, but stopped when they realized that there was too much to stack on the side of the roadway, the officer said.”

He said they suspended the effort and shoved the big rig to the center divide so that it wouldn’t impede traffic.

The efforts were to resume once the company that owns the rig sends additional trucks to pick up the merchandise, Creel said.

The crash happened on southbound Interstate 680 near Durham Road when a passenger car rear-ended a big rig, the officer said.

A second big rig swerved to avoid that crash and jackknifed. Then a third tractor-trailer overturned as it swerved to avoid the car, which became disabled in the far left lane, Creel said.

In all, seven vehicles were involved in three separate crashes stemming from the initial incident, the officer said.

Four motorists were transported by ambulance to local hospitals with minor injuries.

Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to have been involved, Creel said.