Double Big-Rig Crash Injures Two, Spills Diesel Fuel On I-10

COACHELLA, CA -- A freeway crash between two big rigs today injured both drivers and spilled more than 55 gallons of diesel fuel, which fire crews were working to keep from leaking into a nearby storm drain.

The crash -- reported at 5:24 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 10, east of Dillon Road in Coachella -- propelled one of the trucks onto its side.

Both drivers were hospitalized with moderate injuries in the crash, April Newman of the Riverside County Fire Department said.

But fire crews, as well as officials from the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, remained on scene well after the crash, as the spilled fuel leaked down an incline off the right shoulder, coming as close as 20 feet to storm drain, Newman said.

Crews worked to stop the leak, but as of 10:30 a.m., were still on scene.

The California Highway Patrol closed the number 2 lane of eastbound Interstate 10, while crews worked on containing the leak, causing traffic to back up in the immediate area.

• Also from today on I-10: 1 Dead, 1 Injured In Desert Rollover Crash
• From Thursday news on Patch: Conrad Hilton Pleads Guilty To Evading Arrest On I-10

--City News Service