TRAFFIC ALERT: I-10 eastbound in Indio reopened after oil spill

Interstate 10 traffic was stopped eastbound in Indio at the Golf Center Parkway, and a SigAlert issued, due to a spilled load of flower-scented mineral oil on the roadway early Tuesday morning.

All lanes were blocked for nearly an hour and a half until approximately 165 gallons of the scented oil could be cleaned off the road, according to the California Highway Patrol. It spilled from a small trailer, pulled by a pickup truck.

Crews reopened the roadway at 6:24 a.m., but the backup was still an issue until 6:45 a.m.

Traffic was backed up to the west past Jackson Street and Monroe Street. Motorists were urged to avoid the area until the backup cleared. Other motorists were detoured off the freeway onto city streets.

Westbound traffic was not impacted, but the CHP was running traffic breaks in the eastbound lanes and using the side shoulder to move some traffic past the spill site.

A large white barrel of oil broke on the roadway and was first reported at 4:08 a.m. Crews were placing absorbent on the roadway to soak up the spill.

A CHP spokesman said the spill occurred when a driver lost control, and a trailer detached from the pickup spilling debris onto the freeway.

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 / CBS Local 2 News for updates.