Tuesday morning commuters in Lakeside faced an unexpected delay as a semi-truck unleashed a torrent of food grease onto State Route 67, prompting a detour to Willows Road. The incident was first reported around 4:40 a.m., as the southbound flow of traffic stopped, according to a statement obtained by Times of San Diego. An apparent hole in the truck's tank was deemed the source, leaking grease and creating perilously slick conditions.
The California Highway Patrol swiftly responded to manage the chaos and ensure to safely redirect vehicles away from the hazard. Environmental teams were also dispatched to attend to the clean-up of the greasy mess, which was confirmed not to be toxic, according to the CHP. In an effort to inform the public, Caltrans San Diego posted on X, alerting drivers of the detour to Willows Road due to the spill.
SB SR-67 traffic being detoured to Willows Rd due to a food grease spill.
— Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) December 19, 2023
The mishap caused significant backups along SR-67, with delays stretching from Winter Gardens Boulevard to San Vicente Avenue, Caltrans San Diego reported. The ripple effect was palpable throughout the region's arterial roads as early risers scrambled to modify their travel plans, confronting the unexpected obstacle to their day's toil.
