Two men were hospitalized after a multi-vehicle crash that also caused a fuel leak Tuesday eastbound on Interstate 10 near Whitewater.
The crash was reported shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday near Whitewater Road, west of Tipton Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A preliminary investigation revealed a tractor-trailer collided with another tractor-trailer parked on the right shoulder of I-10 in front of the Whitewater Rest Area, which caused one of the semi trucks to rupture its “right side saddle tank, causing a release of fuel and engine oil onto the right shoulder of Interstate 10 eastbound,” the agency said.
A second crash occurred a short time later involving three other vehicles after they attempted to avoid the initial crash. In total, four semi trucks and a 2023 white Subaru were involved in the two collisions, authorities said.
A 46-year-old man from Bell and a 60-year-old man from Long Beach were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs for complaints of pain. No other injuries were reported.
The No. 3 and 4 lanes were temporarily closed for clean-up, but re-opened by 10 a.m. Caltrans and the Department of Environmental Health were requested to assist at the scene.