Accident Backs Up Freeway for Miles

Almost the entire length of the southbound Long Beach Freeway was backed up for hours Tuesday after a big rig crashed near the 91 Freeway in Long Beach, authorities said.

All but one lane of the Long Beach Freeway was closed after the truck smashed into the concrete divider at 2:13 p.m. and broke apart, California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Joy said. No one was seriously injured, he said.

The truck spilled a large amount of diesel fuel, which initially caused havoc for approaching drivers.

“While our firetruck No. 11 was there on scene, they actually witnessed 12 cars spin out and three cars rear-end other cars,” Joy said. “It was because of the diesel spill. The diesel fuel went across the whole southbound side of the freeway. It’s hard just to walk on diesel fuel. It’s like walking or driving on ice.”

The accident created a back-up to the San Bernardino Freeway, nearly 15 miles from the crash site.

Five other vehicles were involved in the accident and one person was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, said Long Beach Fire Department spokesman Wayne Chaney.

“It’s surprising and fortunate there was only one minor injury,” Chaney said. “It could have been a really bad one.”

The cause of the accident was still under investigation, Joy said.

Caltrans was called in to clean up the fuel and repair the damaged center divider, the CHP said.