There was a wild overnight crash in Los Angeles that sent a semi-truck flipping over a freeway divider and landing right on active Metrolink tracks. The incident shut down westbound lanes of the 10 Freeway for hours and knocked out train service in the process. Thankfully, the wild scene didn’t cause any injuries.
The crash happened around 3:15 a.m. Thursday morning, KTLA reported. On the westbound 10 Freeway near Del Mar Avenue in Rosemead. Footage from the wreck showed the big rig flipped completely over, lying right on the Metrolink tracks after going over the concrete barrier that separates the freeway from the rail.
That barrier, known as a K-rail, is placed on freeways solely to stop vehicles from crossing into oncoming lanes or flying off the road entirely. This time, it wasn’t enough. That barrier was damaged, and it’s still not clear what caused the truck to flip in the first place.
You can also see what looks like oil from the truck that had spilled over the barrier and onto parts of the freeway.
Traffic Was Slowed for Hours
The crash triggered a long SigAlert, an official traffic notice that flags road closures, which would cause massive delays. The FastTrak lanes and the two left lanes stayed closed well past sunrise, with the SigAlert lasting until 10 a.m.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. A crash this early would normally give crews a decent window to clear the scene before traffic picks up, but this one dragged on right into the start of the morning commute.
Trains Were Shutdown Too
Drivers weren’t the only ones affected. Metrolink suspended service between the El Monte and Cal State Los Angeles stations while crews worked to clear the truck off the tracks and check for damage underneath.
It was reported that trains were running again by 6:57 a.m., even though the SigAlert hadn’t lifted yet. The freeway wasn’t fully reopened until just after 10 a.m., bringing an end to a shutdown that lasted close to seven hours start to finish.
People Online Had Different Takes
Online comments focused on the fallout, with one predicting that plenty of commuters would head out that morning with no clue the freeway was closed, only to get stuck and show up late for work.
Others focused on the bigger picture. One person argued that the barrier probably needs a redesign, pointing out that a massive semi-truck landing on active train tracks shouldn’t have been possible in the first place.