Truck Blocks Interstate 405 for 4 Hours

Rush-hour traffic on the northbound San Diego Freeway was brought to a standstill Monday when a truck driven by Richard Conrad Miller, 52, of Long Beach, turned over and spilled its load of lumber just before 4 p.m., blocking all lanes for more than four hours.

Miller was changing lanes near the Bolsa Chica Street overpass when he clipped a Chevrolet Impala driven by Susan Schwartz, 26, also of Long Beach, and then swerved to avoid hitting her car again, CHP Officer Bonnie Blatt said.

Miller missed hitting Schwartz’s car again, but his truck crashed into the guard rail.

All northbound lanes of the freeway were blocked until 8:10 p.m., Blatt said, but traffic was allowed through on the median strip.

The Highway Patrol still was receiving calls after 9 p.m. regarding motorists who had been delayed as much as two hours by the traffic tieup, said CHP dispatcher Janelle Clem.

Miller was admitted to Long Beach Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Schwartz suffered no injuries, Blatt said.