Chemical spill closes Highway 99 in Ceres, snarling morning commute
Traffic diverted at Mitchell Road
JULY 14, 2015
CERES, CALIFORNIA
Tuesday morning’s commute through Ceres turned into a nightmare when a pool spill resulted in a five-hour closure of Highway 99 northbound.
A truck carrying liquid and tablet chlorine and muriatic acid overturned Tuesday morning. The accident was reported at 7:31 a.m.; the lanes were not fully cleared until 1:39 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
A Nissan pickup truck carrying the chemicals was traveling south in the center lane when, for unknown reasons, driver Pedro Reyes, 23, turned right and hit a big rig in the slow lane.
The impact sent the Nissan to the other side of the highway where it collided with the guardrail in the center divide, overturned and landed on its roof on the northbound side of the highway.
Reyes was taken to Doctors Medical Center with minor injuries. The driver of the big rig was not injured.
Traffic on northbound 99 was diverted at Mitchell Road while crews cleaned up the spill.
During much of the morning, traffic was backed up well into Turlock. The CHP reported that drivers were turning around in a break in the center divide at Faith Home Road.
Ceres police posted a message to drivers on the department’s Facebook page, alerting them to related traffic issues within the city and asking for patience.
“We realize this is no fun for travelers,” the post read. “Please slow down and adhere to all laws and arrive at your destination safely and alive.”
Sgt. Jason Coley said most travelers heeded the advice. There were no reports of traffic accidents in the city in the areas with high congestion, primarily on Hatch Road, Mitchell Road, El Camino Avenue, Service Road and Whitmore Avenue.
One Ceres police officer was sent to assist the CHP at Hatch and Herndon roads to manage traffic.
The slow and center lanes, as well as the ramps at Joyce Avenue and Bystrum Road were opened at about 12:30 p.m. Authorities estimated it would take at least another 90 minutes for traffic flow to return to normal.