Major Crash On I-10 Snarls Traffic In Cathedral City

A crash involving three big rigs on Interstate 10, just west of Date Palm Drive, left traffic creeping by on Tuesday, according to Cathedral City police and the California Highway Patrol

Two trucks collided and rear-ended another truck carrying loads of hay bales just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday, which littered the freeway. The bales, coupled with oil and diesel fuel that spilled from the trucks, posed a headache for cleanup crews.

A hazardous waste team was also called out to clean up some acid that spilled from one of the trucks.

Two of the drivers were transported to a local hospital after suffering major injuries.

Only one lane was open to traffic until 2:10 p.m., when another lane was opened by crews. A third lane was opened around 4 p.m.

CHP Officer Ramon Perez estimated the final lane could re-open by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

At times, drivers were experiencing 45-to-60 minute delays passing through the stretch of freeway.

The CHP is investigating what caused the crash.