Fiery crash involving big rig on the 10 Freeway in Montclair (KTLA-TV) |
MONTCLAIR, Calif. (KTLA) -- A fiery crash involving a big rig created a traffic nightmare on the 10 Freeway in Montclair early Wednesday morning.
The accident happened around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday on the westbound 10 at Monte Vista.
The diver of a Mercedes lost control for unknown reasons and hit a big rig, according to the CHP.
The big rig driver swerved to the left and struck a Nissan.
Both the Nissan and the semi then crashed into the center divider.
One of the rig's diesel tanks landed in the eastbound lanes and ruptured.
That's when the semi caught fire. It took over an hour to extinguish the flames.
The driver of the semi truck was airlifted to County USC Medical Center.
The driver of one of the vehicles had to be extricated with the jaws of life. That person was airlifted to Loma Linda hospital.
Their injuries were non-life threatening, according to the CHP.
Crews used cranes to upright the big rig, which was then towed away on a flat bed truck.
Hazmat personnel were also on scene to clean-up fuel spilled from the semi.
Crews will return later to repair the center divider, the CHP said.
Both the westbound and eastbound lanes were reopened by 6:30 a.m., but traffic remained slow.
Alternate routes include:
-The 60 Freeway
-Arrow Highway
-4th Street to San Bernardino Street/ West to Indian Hill/ North to the 10
The accident happened around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday on the westbound 10 at Monte Vista.
The diver of a Mercedes lost control for unknown reasons and hit a big rig, according to the CHP.
The big rig driver swerved to the left and struck a Nissan.
Both the Nissan and the semi then crashed into the center divider.
One of the rig's diesel tanks landed in the eastbound lanes and ruptured.
That's when the semi caught fire. It took over an hour to extinguish the flames.
The driver of the semi truck was airlifted to County USC Medical Center.
The driver of one of the vehicles had to be extricated with the jaws of life. That person was airlifted to Loma Linda hospital.
Their injuries were non-life threatening, according to the CHP.
Crews used cranes to upright the big rig, which was then towed away on a flat bed truck.
Hazmat personnel were also on scene to clean-up fuel spilled from the semi.
Crews will return later to repair the center divider, the CHP said.
Both the westbound and eastbound lanes were reopened by 6:30 a.m., but traffic remained slow.
Alternate routes include:
-The 60 Freeway
-Arrow Highway
-4th Street to San Bernardino Street/ West to Indian Hill/ North to the 10
