The California Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a man killed early Sunday when his minivan crashed on I-80 in Berkeley. (File)
A crash early Thursday involving a big rig gas tanker shut down the southbound direction of a state highway in Santa Cruz County, the California Highway Patrol said.
The wreck happened about 6:45 a.m. on southbound state Highway 17 just south of Sugarloaf Road.
A driver emerged from the truck with evidence of a head injury, according to initial reports confirmed by the CHP. The severity of the injury was not immediately known.
The CHP confirmed initial reports that the tanker overturned and that part of it went down an embankment. Those reports also indicated gas from two loaded tanks leaked, according to the CHP. The CHP said initial reports indicated there 8,600 gallons of fuel in the tankers.
The CHP closed both lanes of southbound Highway 17 at Sugarloaf Road, as well as the far left lane in the northbound direction at Vine Hill Road. At 8 a.m., the CHP still was turning around vehicles on southbound Highway 17 just south of the Summit Road exits where many restaurants are located.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Originally published at Rick Hurd