Overturned big rig closes all southbound lanes of Interstate 5 near Newhall Pass [Updated]

The southbound lanes of Interstate 5 in Sylmar were blocked Tuesday morning after a big rig flipped over near the Newhall Pass.

[Updated at 11:52 a.m.: CHP officers reopened all lanes of Interstate 5 at 11:35 a.m., nearly six hours after the big rig overturned. A SigAlert was canceled.]

The 4 a.m. accident near the Roxford Street exit spurred the California Highway Patrol to issue a SigAlert about 20 minutes later.

Although all lanes of the southbound freeway were closed, CHP officers were directing traffic onto the right shoulder to allow cars to move, said CHP Officer Anthony Martin.

The big rig was leaking diesel fuel, he said.

CHP officers initially estimated the freeway would be opened two hours after the accident but later changed the status of the reopening to “undetermined,” Martin said.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.

-- My-Thuan Tran

Photo: Cars use the shoulder to pass the wrecked semi-trailer truck, which crashed on the southbound lanes of the Golden State Freeway north of Roxford in Sylmar snarling morning rush-hour traffic. Credit: Anne Cusack  / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Old Venturan]

Can you say "Driving too fast"? The posted speed limit of 55 mph for trucks and trailers is such a joke.

[Jim Q. Citizen]

I saw the tractor of this rig at 10:30 am and it was up on the center divider having almost come through into the northbound lanes. The tractor was so badly crushed you could hardly tell what it once was. I can't imagine that anyone could have survived inside that rig. The area where the 14 and the 5 intersect seems to play host to many a spectacular wreck. Be extra careful driving through there.

[H8LAFRWYS]

It's amazing how many people do not listen to the radio before they get on the freeway. I took the train and watched the parking lot that is the 5/14 frwy.

[asdfasdf]

Old Venturan, I completely agree. The vast majority of truckers are often driving 65 mph or faster. I once was driving the speed limit (65 mph) in the right lane awaiting my exit ramp and had a big rig go around me because I suppose I wasn't going fast enough for him.