Overturned Big Rig Blocks 5 Freeway Traffic, Forcing Drivers On 60-Mile Detour

All lanes of the southbound 5 Freeway were shut down Thursday morning near Pyramid Lake in the Angeles National Forest after a big rig overturned, forcing drivers on a 60-mile detour through the mountains and Antelope Valley.

The crash occurred before 11 a.m. on the southbound freeway near Vista Del Lago Road, about 20 miles south of the top of the Grapevine, according to the California Highway Patrol.

As of noon, all lanes of the southbound freeway were shut down between Vista Del Lago Road and the Whitaker/Castaic brake check area, according to a Sigalert.

Traffic was being diverted onto State Route 138 — forcing drivers heading to Los Angeles or points farther south to take a major detour through the Antelope Valley.

The stretch of the 5 Freeway from the detour to the Newhall Pass is 37 miles. Motorists following the detour will need to drive nearly 100 miles to get back on the 5 at the Newhall Pass via the 14 Freeway.

The CHP urged motorists to use alternate routes, as traffic was heavy on the state road.

"This closure will be in place for an undetermined time so emergency personnel and crews can safely clear the lanes," the CHP wrote.

Two lanes of the southbound 5 were reopened by 1 p.m.

Hours before the crash, the CHP had warned drivers of strong wings, wet roads, areas of limited visibility and snow flurries through the area.

The National Weather Service has a high wind warning in effect for the area until 8 p.m. Thursday. Winds of 25 to 40 mph are expected, along with gusts of up to 65 mph.