All I-680 lanes reopen in Walnut Creek after big-rig crash

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- All lanes of Interstate Highway 680 have reopened after a crash involving an overturned big-rig blocked lanes on both sides of the highway and snarled traffic for several hours this morning.

The crash was reported around 6:35 a.m. on Highway 680 near North Main Street and jammed morning commute traffic in the area, according to the CHP.

All lanes reopened around 11:15 a.m. after crews removed the big-rig and debris from the roadway and made repairs to the center divider, CHP officials said.

The collision occurred after a Toyota Sienna minivan traveling north apparently got cut off and swerved to avoid a collision, spun out and ended up facing south, CHP spokesman Officer John Fransen said.

A big-rig carrying dirt swerved to avoid the Toyota but struck it, then continued through the concrete center dividing wall and overturned in the southbound lanes of the highway, causing damage to five cars that were traveling south, Fransen said.

Dirt and a small amount of diesel fuel spilled out of the truck and onto the roadway, he said.

The male driver of the big-rig and female driver of the Toyota were taken to a hospital with minor injuries, Fransen said.

The crash and spill initially blocked all southbound lanes and the two northbound lanes of Highway 680.

CHP officials are asking anyone who may have witnessed what led to the crash to call their Contra Costa office at (925) 646-4980.