EB Richmond-San Rafael Bridge reopened after morning fire

Bay City News
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
This image shows a big-rig that crashed and caught fire on the eastbound lanes of the San Rafael Bridge on Sept. 27, 2016.
This image shows a big-rig that crashed and caught fire on the eastbound lanes of the San Rafael Bridge on Sept. 27, 2016.
vod-KGO-TV

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- All eastbound lanes of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge are now open following clean up a big-rig fire from Tuesday morning that threatened the bridge's support structures, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Drivers were asked to avoid the area after a big-rig crashed into a guardrail and burst into flames around 8 a.m. CHP spokesman Officer Andrew Barclay said.

All the traffic was led off the bridge, but the lanes remained closed much of the afternoon so crews could clean up the wreck, which included a diesel fuel spill, and to make sure the bridge sustained no significant damage.

"It's a lot to deal with," Barclay said.

"The case is under investigation, but we do know that the driver was not intoxicated," said CHP Lt. Aristotle Wolfe.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash and no injuries were reported. The big-rig was hauling 24 tons of contaminated soil from a Marin County construction site, Barclay said.