Overturned Hay Load Hurts 2, Closes Freeway
Two motorists were injured and all eastbound lanes of the Foothill Freeway in Pacoima were closed briefly Monday morning when a truck lost its trailer and spilled more than 20 tons of hay, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The accident occurred at 5 a.m. just east of the Simi Valley Freeway interchange, CHP Officer Monty Keifer said. Traffic was backed up about half a mile on the freeway into Sylmar as traffic was slowed by the blockage. A motorcyclist and the driver of a station wagon were injured when their vehicles struck the truck and debris in the road, the CHP said.
Sgt. Greg Harris said CHP officers were able to open one lane of traffic in about an hour and a Caltrans cleanup crew opened the remaining three lanes by about 10 a.m.
The CHP was investigating what caused the hay trailer to come loose from the truck. The truck’s driver, Darrel Soward, 44, of Pixley, said he was hauling the hay to Chino when the accident occurred. He was not cited pending the outcome of the investigation, Harris said.
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