Big Rig Overturns in San Clemente, Backs Up Traffic to Mission Viejo

A big-rig crash on the northbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway near Avenida Pico backed up traffic to the San Diego County line tonight as crews worked to clean up a fuel spill and remove the vehicle with a crane.

The northbound truck crashed into a center divider, sending concrete from it into two lanes on the southbound side, slowing traffic there until lanes were cleared this afternoon, California Highway Patrol Officer John Latosquin said.

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The crash happened just after 3 p.m. and was still blocking all lanes on the northbound side as of 5 p.m., Latosquin said. Traffic was being routed through the right shoulder, and the line of vehicles stretched at least to Christianitos, the southernmost part of the county, the officer said.

No one was injured in the crash, but firefighters had to clean up fuel on the highway for about an hour, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi.

Caltrans was sending a crew to inspect a bridge to see if the crash damaged it, Latosquin said. Investigators do not know what caused the crash or if another vehicle was involved, he said.

--City News Service

PHOTO Credit: Jesse Mikulec

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