150 Pounds of Asbestos Spill Onto Freeway

Five bags of hazardous asbestos fell off a truck on the Golden State Freeway on Wednesday, causing a pre-holiday traffic jam that stretched 13 miles through Santa Clarita, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The accident forced authorities to close two northbound lanes from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., stalling traffic from Lyons Avenue to Templin Highway, said Officer Steve Munday.

Four bags broke open and spilled damp asbestos that quickly dried and was blown about the freeway by gusting winds, said Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Martin Scott, head of a hazardous materials team.

CHP Officer Ben Ruth estimated about 150 pounds of the material spilled from the bags, which were marked: “Dangerous Hazardous Waste--Asbestos.”

“Before the traffic was stopped, the cars were driving through, and unfortunately, a lot of people probably have this in their cars and possibly have breathed it in,” Scott said. It was not clear how long motorists were able to drive through the asbestos, Munday said.

Asbestos fibers scar the lungs and have been linked to lung cancer.

The truck did not stop, but markings on the bags may help the CHP trace the company that was transporting them, Ruth said. Authorities did not know where the asbestos originated or its intended destination.

Three Caltrans workers sustained minor injuries when their truck, parked on the median strip near Lake Hughes Road with a flashing sign saying “Slow Ahead--Prepare to Stop,” was struck from behind by a van, Munday said.