Traffic Moving Again Along On I-10 After Early-Morning Crash

A deadly head-on collision on Interstate 10, just west of Washington Street, made for a traffic nightmare early Tuesday morning.

Most eastbound lanes were reopened by 10:30 a.m. after they were shut down between Washington and Cook Streets.

Westbound lanes were back open at 7:30 a.m.

CHP Officer Joe Zagorski told News Channel 3 drivers can still expect some delays as cleanup continues.

Zagorski said the backup was caused by a wrong-way driver who crashed head-on into a big rig around 3:45 a.m.

He said the big rig, hauling paper and electronics, caught on fire and spilled fuel onto the roadway.

A hazmat crew was called in to clean up the mess.

Two people in the truck were uninjured, getting out of the vehicle before it caught fire, he said.

The Honda driver was killed almost instantly. Zagorski said investigators knew who the car was registered to, but the body was so damaged that coroner’s investigators would be asked determine the driver’s name.

People were encouraged to avoid the area if possible and use other roadways, such as Highway 111 or Country Club.