Highway re-opens after big rig overturns and catches fire in Camarillo

—UPDATE–

The portion of U.S. Highway 101 in Camarillo that was closed down due to an overturned semitrailer early Tuesday morning re-opened at about 2:30 p.m.

The California Highway Patrol says a 28-year-old Ojai man, who was not identified, was driving a big rig pulling an empty box trailer northbound on the highway when he drove off the right side of the road and crashed into a guardrail before hitting a concrete wall and overturning on its side.

The semitrailer blocked two of the traffic lanes and the right shoulder before catching on fire. Luckily, CHP says the driver of the big rig was able to escape with the help of a passerby before the semitrailer became fully engulfed. He was taken to Los Robles Hospital with minor injuries.

Caltrans crews arrived on scene and quickly noticed diesel from the vehicle’s fuel tanks had spilled onto the dirt embankment. Crews worked to clean up the diesel spill with assistance from the Ventura County Environmental Health Division. Two lanes of northbound Highway 101 were opened just before 8 a.m. with the rest re-opening later in the day.

ORIGINAL INFORMATION

An overturned semi-truck that caught fire slowed traffic on Highway 101 in Camarillo early Tuesday.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash was reported just after 4:30 a.m. on the Northbound Highway 101 near Lewis Road in Camarillo.

The driver was reported able to get out of the semi-truck. The driver’s condition is unknown. No other vehicles were involved.

The Northbound side of Highway 101 has been closed and traffic diverted onto Lewis Road while crews investigate. It is scheduled to reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.