Big Rig Carrying Mail Hits Truck, Blocks Freeway

A big rig carrying mail for the U.S. Postal Service crashed into a crane truck and caught fire Monday morning on the southbound Golden State Freeway in the Newhall Pass, blocking all four lanes of rush-hour traffic for several hours, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Oscar Mejia, 45, the driver of the big rig, was treated at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital for a scalp laceration, chest bruise and minor smoke inhalation before being released, Newhall CHP Officer Michelle Esposito said.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the scene at Gavin Canyon, south of Calgrove Boulevard, at 8:29 a.m. and had the fire out at 8:44 a.m., said Inspector Mark Tolbert.

Tolbert said some mail in the big rig was damaged by flames, but a U.S. postal inspector could not be reached for confirmation.

The crane truck was driving 15 to 20 mph uphill in the right lane of the freeway when the semi approached at an estimated 50 mph, Esposito said.

The crane driver was uninjured, but the van almost immediately caught fire, she said.

The freeway remained closed until 11:15 a.m., when the right two lanes were reopened. The other two lanes were shut down for an additional two hours.

“I’m sure it was the first day back to work for a lot of people after the holidays,” Esposito said. “I’m sure there were a lot of angry people.”