Fiery 13 vehicle chain reaction crash causes traffic nightmares on the Grapevine
An overnight crash in the Fort Teton area involving multiple semi trucks and passenger vehicles is causing serious traffic delays on the northbound 5 Freeway, according to California transportation officials.
The initial crash happened last night around 9 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-5 at the East Escape Ramp when two semi trucks collided, causing one of them to overturn. This crash resulted in a fire and caused traffic backups, according to ABC 7.
#Breaking #Photos 13 car fiery pile up closes interstate 5 in Grapevine. 3 minor injuries. pic.twitter.com/NN5XwMm0s0
— RMG News (@RMGNews) May 9, 2018
A secondary crash occurred when a semi truck failed to slow for the traffic created by initial crash and hit as many as 10 other vehicles.
Only minor injuries have been reported.
The incident resulted in serious traffic delays, with one truck driver telling news station KTLA that it took him five hours to travel a mile and a half. Transportation officials shut down both directions of I-5 following the crash. The southbound lanes reopened around midnight.
Traffic delays of two hours have been reported this morning. Crews are working to clear the crash and reopen the northbound lanes of I-5, but it isn’t clear when that will happen.
AVOID THE GRAPEVINE! Here’s our updated timelapse video as we’ve been stuck in traffic for 2 HOURS after a fiery big rig crash! WATCH @ABC7 6:30am! #abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/PVJQI6aLqi
— Marc Cota-Robles (@abc7marccr) May 9, 2018
Here’s a look @ NB I-5 near the base of the Grapevine. Crews have been here for almost 11 hours trying to get this cleared. Traffic is barely moving. pic.twitter.com/dL0hsnQgFz
— Claudette Stefanian (@ClaudetteKBAK) May 9, 2018