Truck Fire Backs Up Traffic On I-10

A big rig's trailer hauling vegetable oil and flour caught fire today on eastbound Interstate 10, delaying traffic for several hours, a CHP officer said.

David Sanchez Estrada, 25, of Colton pulled over the 2006 tractor trailer at 12:56 a.m. Wednesday on eastbound Interstate 10, west of the Cactus City Rest Area, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Joe Zagorski.

Estrada, who was not injured, was able to disconnect the cab from the trailer before it became engulfed in flames, Zagorski said.

Firefighters were able to put out the flames within an hour, but both lanes of eastbound I-10 were closed, he said.

The slow eastbound lane remained closed until 1:30 p.m. while crews cleaned up the burnt trailer and its cargo, according to Zagorski.