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.
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.