A significant traffic disruption ensued as a big rig crash and subsequent fuel spill forced authorities to close the westbound 101 Freeway in the Encino area in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred just after 5:15 a.m. near Hayvenhurst Avenue, involving the big rig and another vehicle. The collision led to the overturning of the big rig, which blocked all lanes on the westbound side of the freeway, according to a statement by the California Highway Patrol.
An aerial view captured by Sky5 revealed that all westbound lanes and one eastbound lane remained closed at 6:49 a.m. Diesel fuel was reported to be spilling from the big rig onto the freeway. To mitigate the potential environmental harm, cleanup crews deployed an absorbent.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) offered an update, stating two westbound lanes had reopened by 8 a.m., though it remained unspecified how long the rest of the freeway would continue to be closed.
At the time of reporting, no information was immediately available concerning any potential injuries resulting from the incident. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Further updates on this evolving story are anticipated.
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