Heavy traffic congestion as Memorial Day weekend comes to a close
Memorial Day Weekend is pretty much wrapping up. More than 40 million people took to the roads, making for the most traveled memorial day in a dozen years, according to AAA.
“It’s been a great weekend but you know the traffic, it kind of gets in the way of everything, but you gotta get yourself through it,” aid High Degree, a rapper from the valley traveling Los Angeles.
Bumper-to-bumper conditions were unavoidable for some.
“I’ll do anything to come down here it’s worth it for me,” said Tammy Gray, a traveler from Utah.
According to AAA, gas prices are the most expensive they’ve been in 4 years, but car rentals, airfare, and hotels are less expensive, which experts attribute for the increase in travelers.
“We’re headed back to Burbank and we’re looking at the traffic and thinking maybe we’ll just get a hotel and swimming pool and maybe just go early in the morning before catching our flight,” said Larry Fisher, another traveler caught in traffic.
Traffic only became more congested, closer to 5:30 PM, when California Highway Patrol got a call from a driver who saw a BMW on the right-hand shoulder along the 10 eastbound, stuck in soft sand between Indian Canyon and Date Palm.
The driver’s wheels spinning, allegedly sending sparks up into the air and ultimately catching the car on fire. CHP said one woman was dragged out of the car while it was still engulfed in flames and animal control was called to treat a dog involved. Some people’s commutes doubled in time and tried their best to stay patient through the drive.
Read: Woman dragged from vehicle after it catches on fire on the I-10
“There’s a lot of people who gave their lives for Memorial Day, so giving up a little time in traffic is worth it,” Fisher said.
As of 11 PM, traffic heading west on I-10 is clear, there’s just some congestion from Whitewater to Banning.
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