Overturned Tanker Shuts down 210 Freeway For Hours

SYLMAR, CA — All lanes of the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway at Yarnell Street in Sylmar were closed for more than eight hours Tuesday morning after a tanker truck overturned and spilled hot tar across the freeway.

Firefighters were called about 11:40 p.m. Monday to the westbound 210 east of the Golden State (5) Freeway and located the overturned truck with the driver still inside, but not trapped, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The westbound 210 Freeway lanes were closed while crews worked to clear the scene. One lane was reopened shortly after 8 a.m. and a second lane was reopened about an hour later, but the cleanup effort was continuing as of 10 a.m.

Firefighters helped the man out of the cabm and he was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Humphrey said.

Witnesses said the truck driver was weaving prior to the crash, but the driver disputed that allegation, NBC4 reported.

The crash caused a leak in the tanker, sending tar oozing onto the freeway.

"It started at 160 degrees, as it's cooling, it's getting harder," California Highway Patrol Sgt. Kenneth Wallace told CBS2 in the aftermath of the crash. "That's why they're (Caltrans crews) having to use steam to try to get it off the roadway. It's a sticky mess, it's like glue."

Some of the tar spread to the vicinity of Foothill Boulevard and Filbert Street, Humphrey said.

The CHP issued a SigAlert for all lanes of the westbound 210 Freeway, west of Yarnell Street. During the closure, traffic was taken off the freeway at Yarnell Street. It was unclear when the remaining lanes would reopen.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock