UPDATE (2:21 p.m.) – The California Highway Patrol says it was liquid fertilizer that leaked from the tanker truck. The driver was not injured. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
UPDATE (12:47 p.m.) – Southbound Highway 101 at Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo has reopened after a tanker truck crashed Thursday morning. The damaged tanker required the response of a hazmat crew, causing the freeway to be shut down for several hours.
UPDATE (11:45 a.m.) – The tanker truck that crashed Thursday morning just south of Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo has been removed from Highway 101.
Crews are now cleaning up the highway before reopening the southbound lanes.
UPDATE (11:10 a.m.) – Crews are preparing to tow away the tanker truck. CAL FIRE says all evacuations have been lifted.
Highway 101 south closed. Live from the scene with Alexa Bertola KSBY
Posted by KSBY on Thursday, October 25, 2018
Live with CHP on Highway 101 southbound.
Posted by KSBY on Thursday, October 25, 2018
UPDATE (10:20 a.m.) – CAL FIRE says the hazmat team is beginning to assess the vehicle and the liquid.
#ValleyIC (update) hazmat team is making entry to the vehicle. They will be assesing the damage/leak and confirm the identity and quantity of the chemical. pic.twitter.com/FOK4uy6VYO
— CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) October 25, 2018
UPDATE (10 a.m.) – CHP officers say the liquid spilled onto Highway 101 by a flipped tanker truck is not a hazardous material.
Officers say they received shipping papers that indicate the liquid is not hazardous, however, it remains unclear what exactly the liquid is.
A hazmat crew is still expected to go through its full process to check for any potential dangers.
The southbound lanes of Highway 101 south of Los Osos Valley Road remain closed.
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A crash involving an overturned big rig trailer closed southbound Highway 101 south of LOVR in San Luis Obispo Thursday morning.
It happened at about 7:49 a.m. just south of the Los Osos Valley Road offramp.
CHP says the trailer that rolled is leaking an unknown type of liquid into the median.
Officers were conducting traffic breaks and emergency crews were still responding to the scene as of 8:05 a.m.
Major delays are expected as the southbound side of the highway is closed in the area. A SIG Alert has been issued.
CAL FIRE SLO says anyone within 300 feet of the crash is being asked to evacuate. That includes one nearby home and the Johnson Ranch area.
Officials say the evacuations are in case winds were to shift prompting an environmental concern.
Cars are stopped and lining the highway near LOVR and on the onramp. At 8:30 a.m., vehicles could be seen turning around on the highway and using the onramp as an offramp. A hazmat crew was also en route from northern SLO County.
A look at traffic on southbound Highway 101 south of LOVR Thursday morning. Vehicles are now using the onramp as an offramp as the highway is closed due to a crash.
Posted by KSBY on Thursday, October 25, 2018
Northbound traffic was also reportedly moving slowly through the area.
No injuries were reported.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
