24-Hour Commuter Nightmare Finally Ends

A more than 24-hour commuter nightmare ended today when all southbound lanes of the Long Beach (710) Freeway in Bell re-opened where a tanker truck loaded with gasoline had tipped onto its side and burst into flames.

All southbound lanes at Florence Avenue were re-opened about 4:45 p.m., said California Highway Patrol Officer Patrick Kimball.

The tanker, which fire officials said was hauling 8,500 gallons of gasoline, overturned about 3:25 p.m. Sunday on the southbound freeway near Florence Avenue and caught fire, sending a plume of smoke that could be seen for miles.

The rig’s driver was freed by firefighters, and no injuries were reported, Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher Cheryl Sims said.

The fire heavily damaged the freeway surface, forcing closure of a stretch of the southbound portion of the freeway at Florence Avenue overnight and through the morning.

Late this morning, authorities closed the transition road from the southbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway to the southbound Long Beach Freeway to limit traffic from entering the affected area.

Sunday’s blaze, which grew into a second-alarm fire, was knocked down at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Sims said. No other vehicles were involved, she said.

The crash and fire shut down all freeway lanes in both directions between Bandini Boulevard to the north and Florence Avenue to the south, backing up traffic for miles.

The northbound portion of the freeway was reopened just before 9:30 p.m. Sunday, CHP Officer Peter Bishop said.

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City News Service

Photo Credit: Twitter user Fresco News ‏@fresconews

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