OXNARD : Bridge Crash Snarls Freeway for Miles
Traffic ground to a near halt for miles on the Ventura Freeway during rush hour Monday afternoon after a three-car accident caused by a suspected drunk driver, California Highway Patrol officials said.
The accident, which occurred at 3:56 p.m. on the northbound side of the Santa Clara River Bridge between Ventura and Oxnard, disrupted the homeward commute for thousands of motorists when two of the three northbound lanes were closed, CHP dispatcher Ray Sandoval said.
The lane closures backed up traffic past Camarillo to the south and deep into Ventura to the north as northbound motorists attempted to cross to southbound lanes while drivers heading in that direction slowed to view the scene, another CHP official said.
An unidentified driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and another unidentified person was hospitalized as a result of the accident, Sandoval said.
Traffic resumed a steady flow after the lanes were cleared about 5:10 p.m., Sandoval said.
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