Watch: Unusual Traffic Jam Monday Morning On Westside Road

HEALDSBURG, CA — A semi-truck wedged into a steep vineyard driveway this morning backed up more than a dozen other tractor-trailers on Westside Road and stranded a hot air balloon in a nearby vineyard.

The backup began around 8:30 a.m. on the two-lane stretch of Westside Road, just south of Healdsburg, when the truck became stuck attempting to negotiate a steep vineyard entrance.

The oversized rig could not complete the turn or re-enter the roadway, leaving traffic at a standstill in both directions for about 20 minutes until California Highway Patrol officers arrived to direct vehicles around the obstruction.

The backup quickly stretched to more than 20 semis, highlighting the importance of Westside Road as a rural freight corridor along the lower Russian River area.

Although the scenic route is known for wineries, vineyards, and cyclists, it also carries commercial trucks serving vineyards, wineries, agricultural businesses, and local deliveries.

The traffic jam created an unexpected problem overhead.

A hot air balloon descended into a vineyard near the historic Felta School and Middleton Farms.

The pilot kept the balloon inflated with periodic blasts from the propane burner while waiting for the chase vehicle to work its way through traffic on Westside Road.

Once the road reopened, the recovery crew reached the landing site. However, the chase vehicle was delayed on Westside Road getting out again. However, traffic was moving faster.

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But the semi remained lodged in the driveway after traffic resumed, and it was not immediately clear how long it would take to remove the truck or whether additional traffic controls would be needed. No injuries were reported.