MURRIETA: Overturned slurry sealer creates “sticky mess,” causes SigAlert
MURRIETA – Officials were left dealing with a “sticky mess” after a pickup truck and a big rig hauling asphalt slurry collided. The collision caused the big rig to overturn, spilling slurry across the roadway Thursday, April 20. The accident happened in the northbound lanes near the junction of Interstates 15 and 215.
The rollover accident forced a SigAlert and created a traffic nightmare for afternoon commuters. Daniel Potter/Public Safety Incidents photo
The crash, which was first reported at 12:07 p.m., and subsequent clean-up efforts, forced a SigAlert and caused a traffic nightmare for afternoon commuters.
The two vehicles were described as a lifted, Chevy Silverado pickup and a 3-axle, 10-wheel, road-sealing big rig. The big rig ended up on its side after the collision and the Chevy ended up facing the wrong way on the freeway.
No one was injured in the collision, according to California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Mike Lassig.
Multiple lanes of the freeway were left blocked after the rollover accident and traffic immediately began back up, making it difficult for emergency first responders to reach the scene.
With several of the northbound lanes blocked by the accident, CHP officials called for a SigAlert just before 12:20 p.m.
No one was injured in the two-vehicle wreck. Daniel Potter/Public Safety Incidents photo
A heavy-duty wrecker and a flatbed tow truck were summoned to the scene to assist with righting the over-turned big rig so it could be towed from the location; however, traffic backed up so far that responding tow trucks became stuck in the traffic and could not reach the scene of the accident.
Tow drivers eventually had to receive permission from CHP officials to use the right hand shoulder of the freeway, just to be able to reach the location where the accident happened.
Caltrans officials responded to the scene to assess the situation and determine the quickest way to remove the relatively small amount of slurry that had spilled onto the roadway.
“The slurry is non-hazardous,” Lassig explained as clean up efforts got underway, “but it’s going to be a sticky mess.”
All lanes were reportedly reopened by 2:45 p.m.
CHP officials are investigating the cause of the accident. Their investigation is active and ongoing.
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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.
ER just got easier….so apropos……….