Big rig collision causes fuel spill and major transport disruption in California
- Two separate big rig incidents occurred in California on the same morning, causing significant traffic backups.
- The first crash on Highway 680 left metal debris across several lanes, while the second incident led to a fuel spill and power outages for Caltrain services.
- Both incidents highlighted the severe impact of trucking accidents on local transportation systems and the importance of swift response by authorities.
On Thursday morning, two significant incidents involving big rigs occurred in California, leading to severe traffic disruptions and transport issues. The first incident happened on Interstate Highway 680 in Sunol at approximately 5:30 a.m. where a collision between two big rigs resulted in the blockage of several lanes. The crash left debris and a load of metal bars across the highway, causing traffic to be backed up significantly from Pleasanton to Interstate 580. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all lanes were reopened by around 10:30 a.m. Simultaneously, another crash involving a big rig occurred on U.S. Highway 101 near South San Francisco. This incident happened shortly before 5 a.m. near the city limit, where the trailer struck an overpass railing, rupturing its fuel tank and leading to a diesel fuel spill of approximately 160 gallons. The crash impacted the three right lanes of the highway, leaving only the left lane open for traffic. As a result of the fuel spill, power was knocked out to the Caltrain overhead lines, severely affecting train services between San Francisco and South San Francisco. Caltrain services were disrupted as northbound trains were temporarily terminating at the Millbrae Transit Center. As the situation unfolded, train services were slowly restored with single-tracking initiated at reduced speeds. By around 10 a.m., power was restored to the southbound tracks, allowing full train services to resume. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Caltrans officials worked together to address the damages, leading to ongoing repairs on the affected bridge over the Caltrain tracks. These incidents clearly illustrated the potential for significant disruption caused by accidents involving large vehicles on major highways, particularly in California, where traffic is always heavy. As authorities investigated the details leading up to the crashes, they focused on ensuring that both the roadways and train services could return to normal operations swiftly to avoid further impact on commuters and freight transport in the region.