A dump truck crashed over the side of the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway Tuesday in Van Nuys, leaving the driver injured and trapped for nearly 30 minutes while also spilling fuel that left traffic snarled on the heavily traveled highway.
The crash occurred around 1:20 p.m. on the southbound freeway near Victory Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles fire Department. Fire crews worked for about a half-hour to free the driver, who was taken to a hospital in unknown condition.
Roughly 20 gallons of fuel spilled from the truck and onto the hillside adjacent to the freeway, although fire officials said none of the fuel ignited or entered any storm drains in the area. Cleanup crews were called to the scene, forcing a closure of the Victory Boulevard onramp and one lane on the southbound freeway, prompting a Sigalert and creating a major southbound traffic backup.