Serious injury crash involving two big rigs snarls westbound I-80 traffic in El Cerrito

EL CERRITO -- An injury crash involving two big rigs blocked multiple lanes on westbound I-80 in El Cerrito for hours starting early Tuesday morning, CHP said.

According to authorities, the two big rigs collided at around 1:30 a.m. east of the Potrero Avenue exit and are stuck together, which is part of why it is taking crews so long to clear the scene.

A preliminary investigation determined the sugar truck rear-ended the carnival equipment truck, leaving mounds of sugar spilled on the highway, according to California Highway Patrol spokesperson Officer Adib Zeid.

As of 6 a.m., three westbound lanes were still shut down, hampering the commute to the Bay Bridge. One person in the crash was airlifted to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek with serious injuries, CHP said. 

The far left lane of westbound I-80 was reopened an hour after the crash and the lane next to it reopened around 10 a.m., according to authorities.

Drivers traveling through the area are advised to use alternate routes like Richmond Parkway to I-580 or surface streets like San Pablo Avenue.  

CHP said sugar is leaking out of one of the big rig's containers, adding to the clean up. The right lanes remained blocked as of 11:30 a.m. All lanes had reopened and the scene was cleared as of 12:35 p.m.

In:
• El Cerrito
• CHP
• Traffic