Big Rig Overturns, Shutting Freeway
A fuel tanker overturned on the Riverside Freeway on Saturday, spilling gasoline, forcing authorities to close the highway for 15 hours and causing traffic to back up for miles, authorities said.
The accident occurred at 2:45 a.m. at the Lakeview Avenue overpass. The truck’s driver told authorities he lost control of his rig, which was carrying up to 9,000 gallons of flammable fuel, said Bruce Jacobson, a spokesman for the Anaheim Fire Department.
The truck fell on its side, causing a rupture in the fuel tank, Jacobson said, spilling about 800 gallons. Large cylinder sponges were used to soak up the fuel as it flowed into the Santa Ana River, and preliminary tests did not reveal any health threats, Jacobson said. The driver suffered minor injuries.
The accident caused a traffic logjam that left some motorists stranded for two hours.
The freeway was closed between Imperial Highway and Tustin Avenue. The westbound lanes were reopened about 11 a.m.; the eastbound lanes were reopened about 5:45 p.m.
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