UPDATE: Car accident and fire that closed right lane of Highway 101 in SLO turned fatal
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – One person died in a car accident that sparked a small vegetation fire and closed the right lane of northbound Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo just before 4 p.m. on Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The accident was reported to the CHP just before 3:30 p.m., when a truck with a camper shell drove off the roadway and collided with a tree near the bottom of the Cuesta Grade, according to the CHP incident page.
Northbound #US101 near SLO, at the bottom of the Cuesta Grade, a vehicle collision and fire has resulted in the closure of the #2 (right) lane. No estimated time for reopening. Please use caution during your commute.
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) April 15, 2022
Cal Fire San Luis Obispo said that its crews were called out to a small vegetation fire, and upon arriving, discovered that the car was on fire as well.
The fire closed the right northbound lane of Highway 101, according to the CHP.
Cal Fire told News Channel 3-12 that it estimated crews to be committed to the scene until between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The crash caused not only the highway lanes to be congested with cars, but local surface streets in San Luis Obispo as well, according to CalTrans.
Traffic was still moving slowly on the highway and near Higuera Street, Madonna Road, and Los Osos Valley Road around 5:30 p.m., CalTrans said, adding that there was still no estimated time for reopening.
