Calif. residents flee river of flame after oil rig crash

LOS ANGELES Residents of Commerce, Calif., were forced to flee their homes Sunday morning after an oil tanker carrying 8,000 gallons of crude oil hit the barrier of a freeway bridge and exploded.

The explosion sent a river of flames into a neighborhood, prompting evacuations in the area. Local residents caught the drama on video.

The driver of the big rig was reported to be in critical condition.

Authorities say two other people were also injured.

CBS Radio affiliate KNX 1070 reported that the tanker ignited a wall of fire along the embankment of the freeway and burned several vehicles, some of which exploded.

California Department of Transportation officials were on the scene to assess the structural integrity of the blackened bridge, and the freeway was later reopened.