Big Rig Crane Crash; Fuel Spill Triggers Highway 237 Commute Backup
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- The driver of a big rig crane swerved to avoid a collision on Highway 237 early Friday, lost control of his vehicle, flipped over and dumped fuel across the freeway.
Crews eventually uprighted the crane which blocked Highway 237 for most of the day.
The crane had to be taken apart and removed and the freeway cleaned before traffic was allowed through, according to CHP Officer Ross Lee.
Highway 237 is a critical commuting corridor connecting Interstate 880 and 680 with Highway 101 and Mountain View. As the highway remained closed heading into the evening commute drivers backed up on surface streets and there was no shortage of frustration.
The large mobile crane was traveling west on the freeway about 6 a.m. when the driver lost control, went through a guardrail into eastbound lanes and flipped near the Zanker Road offramp, the CHP said.
The crane spilled diesel and hydraulic fluid across the highway, requiring cleanup.
All eastbound lanes were initially blocked and, shortly after 10 p.m., westbound lanes were shut down to allow for the crane's removal. The driver of the crane suffered minor injuries, the CHP said.
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