Thursday, January 8, 2015

PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA: 18-WHEELER TRUCK OVERTURNS WITH 6,000 CASES OF BEER. THE DRIVER OF THE BIG-RIG TOLD AUTHORITIES HE HAD A MEDICAL ISSUE AND RAN THE TRUCK ONTO THE HIGHWAY'S RIGHT EMBANKMENT, THEN UP A HILL AND THEN TIPPED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.



PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA: 18-WHEELER TRUCK OVERTURNS WITH 6,000 CASES OF BEER.  THE DRIVER OF THE BIG-RIG TOLD AUTHORITIES HE HAD A MEDICAL ISSUE AND RAN THE TRUCK ONTO THE HIGHWAY'S RIGHT EMBANKMENT, THEN UP A HILL AND THEN TIPPED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.

Posted:   01/08/2015 06:37:02 AM PST Updated:   about 4 hours ago

Cases of beer are offloaded after a truck carrying Coors and other brands overturned shortly after 3 a.m. on Interstate 580 westbound in Dublin, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. The accident snarled the morning commute for hours. (Cindi Christie/Bay Area News Group) 

PLEASANTON, CAL -- A big-rig driver suffered minor injuries early Thursday after his truck with 6,000 cases of beer overturned on a Bay Area freeway, slowing the morning commute to a crawl, according to the California Highway Patrol said.

The truck, carrying cases of Coors Light and Pabst Blue Ribbon, overturned while traveling westbound on Interstate 580 near Foothill Road, just before 3:15 a.m., CHP Officer Tyler Hahn said. 

The driver was initially trapped but rescuers were able to free him without the use of hydraulic tools, according to Hahn. The driver of the big-rig told authorities he had a medical issue and ran the truck onto the highway's right embankment, then up a hill and then tipped onto its left side.

He was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
The crash left cans of beer and other wreckage blocking the two right lanes of I-580. The CHP closed both lanes until shortly after noon so crews could clean up.