Overview
- The California Highway Patrol says the big rig jackknifed after the driver fell asleep and struck attenuator sand barrels shortly before 3:20 a.m. Friday, leaving the truck with its axle ripped out.
- Responders reported a sand barrel exploded on impact and an oil spill spread into lanes, forcing crews to clean contaminated pavement before towing and heavy-lift operations can move the rig.
- Authorities told a CBS photojournalist the truck was carrying about 40,000 pounds of fruit from the Central Valley, a cargo that complicates recovery and requires additional unloading or handling on scene.
- Multiple northbound I-238 lanes and the ramp to southbound I-880 remain closed with only one lane open in the area, producing multi-mile backups that extend past the I-580 interchange into Castro Valley.
- Attenuator/sand barrels are meant to absorb impacts but can scatter material when struck, and officials warned that early-morning driver fatigue is a common risk factor in commercial vehicle crashes that can prolong clearance and traffic disruption.