A truck carrying lithium-ion batteries overturned on the 47 Freeway in San Pedro on Thursday, Sept. 26, sparking a fire and shutting down traffic in both directions between the 110 and 710 freeways.
Around noon, the big rig rolled over at the start of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, near Navy Way on Terminal Island, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. Hazmat crews and firefighters were dispatched to the scene.
“The batteries have been damaged, and are on fire and off-gassing (with reports of one battery exploding),” LAFD announced in a statement. “Firefighters have created a large perimeter around the site and are in the defensive mode.”
Details about the cause of the rollover and whether there were any injuries were not immediately available.
As of late afternoon, traffic on the 47 Freeway remained at a stand-still going both ways between the 110 and 710 freeways. Harry Bridges Boulevard going toward Anaheim Street was gridlocked, with heavy traffic on Pacific Coast Highway and in Wilmington.
California Highway Patrol officials indicated that the Vincent Thomas Bridge could potentially remain closed for as long as 24 to 48 hours. A text message sent to longshore workers said that several terminals will be closed due to the toxic fire.
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