Traffic reached a standstill on Highway 1 in Sonoma County after a big rig crash caused a major blockage on Tuesday. The double-tanker fuel truck rolled over just north of Jenner Beach Trail, with the California Highway Patrol shutting down the road for hours to manage the emergency, Patch reported.
According to the CHP Santa Rosa's Facebook page, the tanker, hauling 8,500 gallons of fuel, miraculously did not leak. The driver escaped the scene unscathed, a relief amidst a potential disaster. CHP stated, "none of the 8500 gallons of fuel leaked from the trailers and the driver was uninjured." The expected time for the highway to reopen was forecasted for 6:00 a.m. following the offloading of the fuel.
The crash occurred after 4:30 p.m. near mile marker 23.02, with hazmat crews working into the night to transfer the fuel to another truck that arrived from Richmond. The cleanup efforts lasted several hours, officially ending when hazmat declared the scene safe at 12:25 a.m., as per Patch's report.
However, even past 1 a.m., a 1-mile stretch of Highway 1 north of Jenner remained closed as crews continued carefully to upright the overturned tanker. This closure remained necessary for ensuring the roadway and its users stay out of harm's way. Until the tanker was been fully secured and cleared, the CHP stressed motorists to seek alternative routes.
