Overturned Strawberry Truck Causes Traffic Jam on California Highway

Early Wednesday morning, May 29, a semi-truck carrying a whopping 40,000 pounds of strawberries overturned on northbound US Highway 101 at the Insterstate Highway 880 interchange in San Jose, California. The incident resulted in a major traffic jam, causing significant delays for commuters.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the truck mishap occurred around 3 a.m., leading to a literal berry blockade on the road. Video and photos from the scene showed a tow truck and a loader diligently working to clear the thousands of strawberries scattered along the highway ramp. The cleanup efforts took several hours as the sticky mess needed to be thoroughly addressed.

Strawberry Transfer Operation

The large tractor trailer, which remained on its side for an extended period, required workers to carefully transfer the intact strawberries to a second truck for transportation to their final destination. The cumbersome process of off-loading the spilled strawberries and righting the trailer added to the lengthy cleanup and road closure.

The ramps at the interchange had to remain closed for approximately 11 hours as authorities dealt with the aftermath of the strawberry spill. This extended closure significantly affected traffic flow in the area, prompting drivers to seek alternative routes to their destinations.

Despite the chaotic scene and the substantial quantity of spilled strawberries, the CHP confirmed that there were no reported injuries resulting from the incident. This was a relief considering the magnitude of the cleanup operation and the potential danger posed by the overturned truck.