Truck Spills 10 Tons of Glass on Freeway

Ten tons of plate glass fell off a truck and shattered on the Golden State Freeway near Saugus on Monday, causing a three-car collision, at least 15 flat tires and closing the southbound lanes of the freeway for more than an hour, authorities said.

Officer Ralph Elvira of the California Highway Patrol said a truck carrying 21 tons of plate glass from Fresno to Los Angeles was traveling south on the freeway near Hasley Canyon Road at 4:15 a.m. when it “swerved abruptly,” causing the glass to slide onto the road and shatter.

Three cars collided as they tried to avoid the glass, Elvira said. No one was reported injured.

CHP Officer Jodi Ransone said that when she arrived at the scene, 15 vehicles with flat tires lined the right shoulder and center divider of the freeway near the spilled glass. Elvira said several other motorists called to complain about flat tires.

The CHP closed the southbound lanes of the freeway while Caltrans crews cleaned up the glass. Two lanes were reopened after 5:30 a.m., Elvira said. The freeway was reopened completely at 8:30 a.m., he said.