Portions of 2 and 5 freeways remain closed after fuel-tanker fire
All northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway at the junction of the 2 Freeway, north of downtown Los Angeles, remained closed Sunday, a day after a tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline overturned, caught fire and caused a massive traffic jam.
The two right lanes of the southbound 2 Freeway at the junction also remained closed, said Officer Ed Jacobs of the California Highway Patrol. It is unclear when any of the shuttered lanes will reopen, he said.
“We’re shooting for” Monday, he said. “We just want to make it safe.”
PHOTOS: Truck fire shuts down 5 Freeway
He said workers were shoring up the freeway tunnel where the accident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday to ensure that it is structurally sound.
Thousands of gallons of gasoline from the truck poured “a burning river of fuel” through storm drains in the Elysian Valley area, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman with the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters were deployed on a mile-long stretch of the river to monitor the spill. It was unclear what kind of environmental risk the spill might pose.
Traffic on Saturday was jammed for miles into Chavez Ravine, where the Dodgers drew tens of thousands of fans for a 4:15 p.m. game.
No one was injured in the accident.
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