FIERY CRASH BETWEEN A TRUCK CARRYING CHICKEN AND ANOTHER ONE CARRYING BEES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
February 2,
2015
INDIO,
Calif. — A semi-truck carrying frozen chicken collided with a truck carrying
thousands of bees in Southern California, creating a fiery crash that cooked
the chicken.
The
California Highway Patrol says the crash on Interstate 10 near Coachella,
Calif., occurred shortly after 7 a.m. Monday leaving hundreds of motorists —
including Super Bowl attendees — stuck in traffic for hours.
As
the trucks traveled west, one of the drivers tried to pass the slower-moving
semi-truck, clipping it in the process, California Highway Patrol Officer
Stephanie Hamilton said.
The
driver — Phoenix resident Eduardo Garcia, 45 — lost control of his vehicle that
was carrying frozen chicken and crashed. His truck was destroyed in the fire,
resulting in smoke that was visible across the Coachella Valley.
"It
was as bad as it could be. Toxic," said Donald Wesley, a trucker who was
stuck in traffic.
Stacks
of barbecued chicken piled up in the front of the truck's charred remains. But
most of the 25,000 pounds of frozen chicken spilled out of their boxes and were
left in a slimy heap along the road.
Photos
showed chunks of blackened, highway-roasted chicken.
The
crash closed the interstate's westbound lanes as highway patrol officers
diverted traffic through the center divider. Road crews removed what was left
of the truck and cleaned the scene of debris and a diesel fuel spill.
The
second truck, which was transporting the bees, was operable and parked on a
side road.
“It
was as bad as it could be. Toxic.”
Donald
Wesley, a trucker stuck in traffic
"I
don't think the bees are causing the problem," Hamilton said of the
traffic delay.
Garcia
was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif., for minor
injuries to his face, Hamilton said.
The
other truck driver, Roberto Diaz, 60, of Miami, was not injured, but declined
to discuss the accident with reporters.
Diaz
was hauling thousands of bees and many of them were buzzing around after the
rear of the truck was busted open.
A
beekeeper arrived to help remove the bees. But dozens of them remained on the
freeway and slowly died along the road.
Wesley
said drivers who were closest to the collision site kept their windows shut to
avoid getting stung by the bees.
All
lanes reopened Monday afternoon.
Several
motorists who had been in Glendale, Ariz., wore clothing with Seattle Seahawks
or New England Patriots logos.
"It's
sort of adding insult to injury," said Los Angeles resident Stanley Payne,
45, who wore a Seahawks jersey. "I was so upset last night, and the drive
home isn't much better."