Caldecott Tunnel Deemed Structurally Safe After Car Fire

A bore of the Caldecott Tunnel was deemed safe and reopened late this morning after a car crashed and caught fire there, according to the California Highway Patrol. The far right eastbound tunnel reopened at about 11:15 a.m. after Caltrans called in an engineer to inspect the bore for structural damage from the fire, according to the CHP.

CHP officers initially responded to a crash near the Fish Ranch Road off-ramp of eastbound state Highway 24 at 6:20 a.m. when the crash inside the tunnel happened.

[Previous: Dozens Flee Caldecott Tunnel on Foot After Car Fire.]

Traffic backups from the first crash had slowed traffic in the tunnel, which connects Oakland to Orinda. A 2000 Ford Taurus then slammed into the back of a 2003 Saturn L300 that had slowed or stopped in traffic, causing the Ford to burst into flames, CHP officials said.

About 60 people were safely evacuated from the bore as the tunnel filled with smoke. Oakland fire crews responded and extinguished the car fire shortly after 7:30 a.m., according to the CHP.

No injuries were reported. All motorists were later able to go back into the tunnel and retrieve their vehicles.

By Bay City News

Photo via CHP Oakland Twitter

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