Photos: Steve Marcotte / OsideNews
Oceanside CA- Two big rigs, each hauling solar panels, rolled over about an hour apart shutting down East-bound access to both the 78 and the 76 Freeways during the morning commute.
The first incident happened approximately 6:15 am, when a 2009 International traveling, South on Interstate 5, suddenly toppled over on the steep turning on-ramp to East-bound Highway 78. The 53-year-old driver from Long Beach was transported by air-ambulance to Scripps La Jolla Trauma center with severe injuries to his left arm and is in danger of losing the limb. The truck hauling the 34,000 lbs cargo container was en-route to Ramona from Long Beach. The ramp to East-bound 78 was re-opened just after 10:00 this morning.
The second incident occurred approximately 7:20 am when a 2010 International, traveling South on Interstate 5, went over on its side when exiting the freeway on the East-bound, Highway 76 connector. The 26-year old driver, en-route to Valley Center from Long Beach, was uninjured. The I-5 East-bound connector to 76 was reopened shortly before 11:00.
The CHP does not believe speed was a factor in either incident and are looking at load shift as a possible cause. The CHP alerted companies in Long Beach about possible hazards with load shift in cargo containers loaded with solar panels leaving their facilities.
Surface streets in Oceanside, Carlsbad and San Marcos were most effected by the ramp closures.