A trash truck leaking hydraulic fluid and engine coolant on the westbound Riverside (91) Freeway near the Riverside interchange resulted in a temporary closure of the area.
Firefighters responded to a report of a large truck explosion around 11:45 a.m. Saturday, but arriving engines found a city of Riverside Compressed Natural Gas powered trash truck on its side with no fire damage, the Riverside Fire Department announced.
Fire crews did, however, find a large amount of hydraulic fluid and engine coolant that was leaking from the truck and running down the street.
“Firefighters worked quickly to check the driver for injuries and mitigate the leaking fluids,” the fire department announced. The driver self-extricated and was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
The California Highway Patrol and Cal Trans representatives were on scene and worked with the Riverside Fire HazMat team to contain the leaking fluid and ensure the CNG tanks were safe.
The fluid leak was mitigated and all fire resources cleared the scene.
The California Highway Patrol assumed the cleanup and the freeway connector was temporarily closed.