Big Rig Crashes Into 101 Freeway Divider, Snarls Traffic In Calabasas
CALABASAS (CBSLA.com) — A big rig crash on the Ventura (101) Freeway created an extensive traffic jam that sickened motorists as they sat in the triple-digit heat, California Highway Patrol officials said.
The crash was reported at 2:31 p.m. near Las Virgenes Road, according to the CHP.
A truck was traveling east when the driver lost control, went through the concrete median divider and came to a stop, officers said. The smashed cab blocked two westbound lanes, and the trailer it was carrying blocked three eastbound lanes. A SigAlert was issued at 2:45 p.m. and traffic was backed up for miles on both sides of the freeway.
Shortly before 6 p.m. traffic was still backed up.
"Having the ultimate car battle in THE WORST traffic right now," L.A. resident Liz Smith wrote on Facebook, as she and her friends were driving back from Malibu via the Ventura Freeway.
Smith expanded on the situation: "People jumping out of cars to pee behind trees, dirty feet hanging out of open windows, a sea of broken down cars..."
The truck reportedly spilled 10-15 gallons of fuel as a result of the crash.
It was unclear if anyone was injured.
Several motorists reportedly called 911 to report feeling sick in the 106-degree heat.
To make matters worse, a minor crash was also reported on Mureau Road, the only other direct route that parallels the freeway through the Calabasas hills.
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