Lanes on the westbound 210 Freeway reopened nearly 12 hours after a big rig carrying about 35,000 pounds of grapes crashed into the center divider Monday in Monrovia, leading to a traffic backup on both sides of the road.
Traffic Maps
The overturned semitrailer truck forced lane closures on both sides of the freeway (map) between Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue. Three westbound lanes were blocked Monday morning. At least two lanes remained closed through 3:30 p.m. Monday when the roadway was fully reopened.
No injuries were reported after the 4:50 a.m. crash.
Traffic was backed up from Buena Vista Street early Monday as crews attempted to upright the overturned semitrailer truck. The truck's fruit cargo did not spill onto the freeway.
A full closure was in effect as crews positioned the tow vehicle to remove the trailer. CHP officers reported no significant damage to the center divider.
The truck, headed from Bakersfield to Ontario, was traveling in the slow lane of the eastbound 210 Freeway when the driver veered left and slammed through the center divider. Part of the semitrailer truck landed on its side on the westbound side of the freeway, but the crash did not result in a fuel spill.
"We're very fortunate that the fuel tanks did not rupture," said CHP Sgt. Mike DuLong.
The trucker told authorities that he swerved to avoid a vehicle merging from an eastbound entrance ramp, but crash investigators have not determined what caused the crash. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, according to the CHP.
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At about 11 a.m., another truck arrived to pull the trailer.
