Truck carrying beer overturns on I-580 in Pleasanton

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- A big-rig carrying 45,000 pounds of beer overturned, blocking two lanes of Interstate Highway 580 in Pleasanton this morning, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

The driver had a coughing fit while hauling the beer on westbound I-580 just past Foothill Road at 3:12 a.m., CHP officials said.

The driver began to choke, blacked out briefly and the truck overturned, CHP Officer Daniel Hill said.

While the doors of the trailer opened and some of the load fell out, the biggest challenge in removing the truck has been getting the heavy trailer back upright.

The 45,000 pounds of beer need to be removed before the trailer can be moved, Hill said. The cans of Coors Light and Pabst Blue Ribbon were on their way from Los Angeles to Richmond.

The truck driver was taken to a hospital with a complaint of pain but any injuries he suffered were minor, Hill said.

Two lanes of the highway are expected to remain closed for the remainder of the morning, according to the CHP.