SAN CLEMENTE : Wrong-Way Driver Causes Crash, Tie-Up

A wrong-way driver crashed into a tractor-trailer truck on Interstate 5 south of the Orange County line early Wednesday, causing the truck to spill its load of sand and creating a 10-mile backup in northbound lanes, the California Highway Patrol reported.

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.

CHP Officer Linda Alley said the accident occurred when a pickup truck drove the wrong way onto the freeway from a rest stop. It headed toward the northbound truck driven by Robert Paxton, 31, of San Marcos, who swerved in trying to avoid impact.

The pickup crashed into the truck’s fuel tanks, causing 30 gallons of diesel oil to spill into the roadway. The truck also spilled its load of 26 tons of fine-grained sand.

The pickup’s driver and a passenger fled and were being sought by the CHP.

Another driver, Charles Winton, 39, of El Cajon, crashed his car into the center divider while trying to avoid the accident. There were no reported injuries.

Five big-rig tow trucks and a street sweeper were called to the scene from San Diego to clean up the mess, Alley said. While the freeway was never closed, its northbound traffic was reduced to a single lane. All lanes were reopened by 10:30 a.m.