Tanker Overturns, Blocks Riverside Freeway
A rush-hour accident involving an overturned tanker truck completely shut down the Riverside Freeway and backed up traffic for miles in the Corona area Friday evening.
The massive snarl built quickly on the westbound lanes of the freeway about 5 p.m., when the tanker and a car collided near Serfas Club Drive.
The driver of a small station wagon, swerving to avoid a car, lost control and spun into the path of the truck, said CHP Sgt. Lorin Orchard.
Only one minor injury was reported, but authorities late Friday expected crews to spend several hours righting and removing the tanker, loaded with 6,500 pounds of highly flammable liquefied hydrogen.
As a safety precaution, all eastbound lanes of the freeway were being closed as well, Fred Lynch, spokesman for the Corona Fire Department, said late Friday.
The tanker did not rupture in the crash, Lynch said.
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