A big rig car-carrier loaded with Teslas caught fire on the Golden State (5) Freeway in Sylmar Saturday, resulting in toxic smoke that shut down southbound lanes.
The fire was reported at 5:35 p.m. Saturday on the southbound Golden State Freeway just north of Balboa Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The transport with its burning load of battery-equipped cars was off to the side of the road but the toxic smoke from the fire made it necessary to shut down the southbound lanes, including the truck lane, according to the CHP. Traffic was rerouted to the northbound Antelope Valley (14) Freeway.
Traffic on the transition from the southbound Antelope Valley Freeway was diverted to the northbound Golden State Freeway, according to the CHP.
Additional firefighters from Los Angeles city and county fire departments were slowed by the freeway traffic, Lantz said.
The cab of the tractor became engulfed in flames but the driver got out, the CHP announced. The initial cause of the fire was not yet known.
No injuries were initially reported, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Lyndsey Lantz. “Motorists are encouraged to keep well clear of the smoke.”