Postal Truck Overturns, Tying Up San Diego Freeway for 3 Hours
COSTA MESA — A Postal Service tractor-trailer rig overturned on the San Diego Freeway on Thursday, strewing mail across the lanes and causing a 10-mile traffic snarl that lasted for three hours, the California Highway Patrol said.
The truck’s unidentified driver, who was temporarily trapped when her rig overturned, was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where she was treated for minor injuries, CHP spokeswoman Angel Johnson said.
The accident occurred shortly after 5 p.m. in the southbound lanes just north of Harbor Boulevard, Johnson said. Three hours later, traffic was still bumper to bumper from the San Gabriel River Freeway connection to the Harbor Boulevard exit, she said.
According to witnesses, a man driving a beige Oldsmobile had been swerving from lane to lane. Two cars collided when their drivers tried to avoid the Oldsmobile, Johnson said.
One hit the postal truck, causing it to overturn, Johnson said. The Olds driver sped away.
Most of the strewn mail was gathered immediately by postal workers, Johnson said.
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