Truck Pileup Shuts Down California Highway For 4 Hours

An early morning crash between five trucks shut down a stretch of Interstate 5 southbound, near Basilone Road, in Orange County.

The crash happened at approximately 7:10 a.m. this morning.

Authorities say that the pileup began when the driver of one truck ran into trucks that were waiting in the right lane of the highway to exit into the weigh station.

“The line of truckers were waiting to reach the weighing scales, and had backed up onto the freeway,” UT San Diego reported.

According to UT San Diego, the crash occurred when one truck slammed into the back of a tanker, which slammed into the truck in front.  That truck rear ended another truck, which rear ended another truck.

Some of the trucks jackknifed and spilled their loads across the highway.

“That’s very well-known by drivers in that area,” California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt said. “The trucks are moving, but very slowly. Why that big-rig driver wasn’t paying attention will be part of our investigation.”

Only one driver was injured in the accident; the driver sustained a minor cut.

“Thank God the propane truck didn’t explode,” Bettencourt said. “There were flatbed trucks involved, carrying construction materials. There was debris all over the roadway. That’s what has kept the lanes shut down.”

California Highway Patrol detoured southbound drivers onto the Ortega Highway.  Other motorists were allowed to drive down the center divider.