Big Rig Crash Causes Fuel Spill, Freeway Closure

A big rig and a small tanker truck transporting crude oil crashed, causing a major spill and a total freeway shut down on the 10 Freeway early Tuesday morning in Baldwin Park.

According to accident reports, the collision between the two work trucks took place at 7:20 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of the freeway near the Baldwin Park Boulevard exit, causing the big rig to jackknife and spill several gallons of diesel fuel across every lane.

Two people were injured in the crash, including the driver of the big rig, who was immediately transported to a nearby hospital. The extent of his injuries is unknown, though they are considered non-life threatening.

The fuel spill forced the closure of all lanes of the 10 East right as morning commuters were preparing to go to work. Traffic through the area was backed up for several miles, and the California Highway Patrol was called to the scene to divert drivers to the 605 Freeway to alleviate the backup.

Cleanup crews were called to the accident site to mop up the spilled fuel, and to ensure that the structural integrity of the road was not compromised as a result of the spill.

While the accident was being cleaned, the immediate area of the 10 Freeway became nothing more than a parking lot, as a number of stranded commuters even got out of their cars to converse with others.

After two and a half hours of total closures, the CHP reopened a single lane to start easing the congestion, and the rest of the lanes were opened by 10 a.m.

At this time there is no word about the cause of the accident, or who may be at fault. Police have launched a thorough investigation and have yet to rule anything out of the equation.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, with or without a big rib involved, you should seek help. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be entitled to compensation, which we at AA Accident Attorneys can help you recover. We are a group of well-trained Orange County accident lawyers with many years of experience handling cases just like yours.

We can help you win settlement from the liable parties involved in your accident so you are able to pay off any medical bills or car repair payments that may have been forced upon you after your incident. We will not change you anything for our services until your case is won. Call our accident lawyers today for your free evaluation and to learn what options are available to you!

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