A semi-truck carrying a hefty load of 40,000 pounds of strawberries overturned on a California highway, spilling its contents and creating a sticky, hours-long traffic jam. As cleanup crews worked tirelessly to remove the crushed fruit from the roadway, drivers were urged to seek alternative routes.
A semi-truck carrying 40,000 pounds of strawberries overturned on a steep ramp in California, creating a traffic jam – literally – as the berries blocked the road for hours during the messy cleanup.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said in a press release that the truck overturned on northbound US Highway 101 at the Insterstate Highway 880 interchange early Wednesday morning in San Jose, California.
The department said the sticky situation unfolded just before 3 a.m. Officials asked drivers to be berry flexible as crews worked for hours to clean up the mess.
Video and photos from the scene showed a tow truck and a loader working to clear the thousands of berries scattered along the highway ramp.
The California Highway Patrol said there were no reports of injuries. (California Highway Patrol)
The cleanup and shutdown lasted hours, as thousands of pounds of strawberries had to be off-loaded before the trailer was righted.
The ramps remained closed for about 11 hours after the incident.
The CHP said no injuries were reported.
Drivers were asked to seek an alternative route during the ordeal.
The overturned truck remained on its side for hours as workers transferred the intact strawberries to a second truck to be transported to their final destination.
The California Highway Patrol said that the cleanup took hours after the strawberries spilled all over the highway. (KTVU)
The incident serves as a reminder to secure heavy loads properly when transporting them on the highway. The CHP urges truck drivers to take extra precautions, especially when traveling on steep ramps or in areas with heavy traffic.
Motorists are also advised to be aware of their surroundings and to pay attention to traffic conditions. In the event of an accident, drivers should pull over to a safe location and call 911 immediately.
