Truck hauling 6,000 gallons of condensed milk skids off California highway, photos show
A tanker truck ran off a Southern California highway early Monday and overturned while hauling a 6,000-gallon load of condensed milk, authorities said.
The tanker crashed off southbound Interstate 5 at Smokey Bear Road in the Lebec area, closing the right lane of traffic, according to the California Department of Transportation District 7. Transportation officials didn’t say how much, if any, of the milk spilled out of the tanker.
The truck “went through the guardrail and landed down an embankment,” according to KGET. It was the only vehicle involved in the crash, which happened around 4:45 a.m., KTLA reported.
“When crew starts pumping up milk, two right lanes will be closed,” transportation officials warned on Twitter just before 8 a.m., saying they weren’t sure how long the cleanup and repair would take.
Transportation officials said on Twitter that an ambulance was requested, but no injuries were reported, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Officials said lanes were still closed at 1 p.m. and would remain closed for a few more hours, ABC23 reported.
Photos released by Caltrans show the truck’s hood torn off in the ditch after the crash.
The cause of the crash wasn’t identified.
Per the Times, “photos from the scene show remnants of snow, which plagued I-5 drivers on Thanksgiving. The winter storm twice forced closures through the Grapevine, leaving travelers to find alternative routes between Southern and Northern California.”
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Truck hauling 6,000 gallons of condensed milk skids off California highway, photos show."
