All Lanes Reopened After 60 MPH Winds Topple Trees, Live Power Lines Onto I-80 Vallejo

VALLEJO (KCBS) -- All eastbound lanes of Interstate Highway 80 that were closed due to downed trees and power lines in Vallejo have reopened Tuesday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Winds gusting near 60 miles per hour or more toppled the trees and PG&E power lines across I- 80, near Redwood in Vallejo, shutting down the entire freeway in both directions during the afternoon commute while PG&E crews turned off electricity to the downed wires and firefighters put out a small fire sparked by the damage.

The incident was reported at 2:56 p.m. near the Admiral Callaghan Lane off-ramp and initially blocked both directions of I-80.

All westbound lanes reopened shortly before 4 p.m. and the far left eastbound lane opened shortly afterward, CHP officials said.

The remaining eastbound lanes reopened shortly after 7:30 p.m., CHP officials said.

Driver Robert Alonso from Sacramento described the chaos as trees began falling saying, "We're all driving the speed limit and trees started coming down."

"Cars in the slow lane all slammed on their brakes, this minivan swerved over. They actually got hit by the tree. I was slamming my brakes, sliding, actually slammed into them," Alonso said.

Medic Ambulance captured some of the damage, and posted pictures to Twitter.

Stuck drivers are taking to social media to share their frustrations.

COMPLETE WIND STORM COVERAGE:

All EB Lanes Reopened After Downed Power Lines, Trees Shut Down I-80 Vallejo

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