Local : Wrong-Way Driver Hits Truck; Sand Spills, Snarls 405 Traffic

A wrong-way driver crashed into a tractor-trailer truck on the San Diego Freeway south of the Orange County line early today, causing the truck to spill its load of sand and creating a 10-mile backup in northbound lanes, the California Highway Patrol said.

The accident, which occurred at 3:55 a.m. near the Border Patrol checkpoint, stretched commutes from Oceanside to San Clemente to two hours or longer during the more than six hours that crews labored to clean up the mess.

Officer Linda Alley said the accident occurred when a pickup truck drove the wrong way onto the freeway from a rest area. Robert Paxton, 31, of San Marcos, driver of the northbound truck, tried to swerve to avoid impact, but the pickup crashed into the truck’s fuel tanks, spilling 30 gallons of diesel fuel. The truck also spilled its load of 26 tons of sand.

Another driver, Charles Winton, 39, of El Cajon, crashed into the center divider while trying to avoid the accident. The driver of the pickup and a passenger fled and were being sought by highway patrol officers. There were no reported injuries.

Five big-rig tow trucks and a street sweeper were called from San Diego to clean up the sand, Alley said. Although the freeway was not closed, its northbound traffic was reduced to a single lane. All lanes were reopened by 10:30 a.m.