Big rig carrying carnival ride crashes on 605 Freeway, creating traffic nightmare for morning commuters

All southbound lanes of the 605 Freeway in Long Beach were closed early Tuesday after a three-vehicle crash involving a big rig.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to the crash near Willow Street in Long Beach about 1:25 a.m. and found the big rig, which was carrying a large carnival ride, had collided with a Toyota Corolla, CHP Sgt. Anthony Soriano told KTLA-TV Channel 5.

The big rig overturned and its engine became dislodged, Soriano said. A BMW then crashed into the engine. Two passengers in the Toyota and the BMW were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.

The condition of the big rig driver was not immediately clear.

Authorities were at the scene for hours after the crash, cleaning up debris and spilled oil. By about 10 a.m., all freeway lanes, except for the right lane and Willow Street offramp, reopened.