LEBEC, CA (Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 8:58 a.m.)—From Kern County Fire Department: A Grapevine, CA Shortly before 7:00 PM on Wednesday, the Kern County Fire Department received a report of a vehicle collision involving a semi truck and a pickup on Northbound Interstate 5, south of the east-side escape ramp. First arriving personnel encountered a tractor trailer, fully-envolved in flames with spilled diesel fuel, also burning, and two separate spot fires in the grassy median. A pickup that had collided with the truck had crossed over into the southbound freeway and lay amid a large field of debris, including the load of ceramic tile from the semi trailer. The grass fires and semi truck blaze were attacked aggressively and extinguished in approximately 30 minutes. Crews tended to the three patients on scene, one patient was transported by ambulance to a Bakersfield hospital and the other two patients elected to seek private medical assistance. The vegetation fires were under one acre, but the semi truck was a total loss. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Kern County Fire Department wishes to advise drivers to exercise caution on the roadway. Steep grades, like the Grapevine, present extra hazards to vehicles and the public. Slow down and save a life.
LEBEC, CA (Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 7:45 p.m.)—A Caltrans sweeper is enroute to clear the tiles from the southbound lanes.
LEBEC, CA (Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.)—CHP reports there are collisions on both sides of the freeway with ceramic tiles covering all four southbound lanes in a 1/3 mile stretch.
LEBEC, CA (Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 7:25 p.m.)—There are several patients with injuries; medevac has been placed on standby.
LEBEC, CA (Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 7:10 p.m.)—Several vehicles, including a big rig are involved in a collision on the northbound Interstate 5 just north of the east escape ramp. Reports are that vehicles on both north and southbound lanes may be involved. About 55 gallons of diesel fuel is flowing down lanes. A big rig fire has been knocked down. Traffic is backing up on both directions. The big rig was reported to be ‘on top of’ a car. A vegetation fire is confined to the center median at less than an acre in size. Ceramic tiles are covering much of the fast lane on the southbound side. Northbound numbers 1 and 2 lanes are blocked.
This is part of the June 24, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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