Big rig slides down embankment
PALMDALE —A big rig slid off the northbound Antelope Valley Freeway down a snowy embankment near the Pearblossom Highway exit early Friday morning, snarling northbound traffic for more than 12 hours.
The incident occurred at 5:03 a.m. and may have been caused by black ice on the roadway. The big rig and its trailer reportedly slid approximately 200 feet down the right shoulder embankment, according to the California Highway Patrol.
No injuries were reported, according to the CHP.
Authorities issued a Sigalert at 9:23 a.m. with the right lane closed for an unknown duration. At 10:57 a.m. authorities closed the middle lane
Approximately 200 feet of guardrail was damaged in the incident, with some sections missing.
Authorities opened the left lane temporarily at 1:18 p.m. to allow traffic to pass, but closed it again after the big rig was uprighted. All lanes were stopped again for about 20 to 30 minutes at about 3:27 p.m. By 3:41 p.m. one lane was open.
As of 5:35 p.m., only the left lane was open.
The rest of the lanes were opened at 6:46 p.m, the CHP said.
Motorists apparent
ly grew frustrated with the delays.
The CHP reported wrong-way drivers with approximately 10 vehicles exiting the freeway on the Crown Valley Road onramp at 3: 29 p.m.
Motorists involved in a collision between a silver Mercedes C300 and a blue Mazda truck that occurred about 3 p.m. Friday at Soledad Canyon Road on the northbound Antelope Valley Freeway moved their cars to the right shoulder, according to the CHP.
There were no available units at the time to respond to the collision because officers were busy with the big rig incident. The CHP advised them to exchange information and get a tow truck, if necessary. But the reporting party, apparently the driver of the silver Mercedes, insisted on CHP assistance.
The motorists agreed to wait until a CHP officer was available. They were apparently still waiting as of 5:50 p.m., according to the CHP.