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Big rig fire closed 2 lanes on SB I-5 in Lebec for several hours

Posted at 7:42 AM, Jan 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-18 15:43:02-05

UPDATE (12:38 p.m.): All lanes are back open on southbound I-5 in Lebec after being closed for around five hours due to a big rig fire, according to CHP Fort Tejon.

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UPDATE (8:40 a.m.): Officials with the CHP's Fort Tejon office say it will be at least three hours until all lanes of Southbound I-5 in Lebec are fully open. 

Around 7:15 a.m., a big rig traveling in the right lane attempted to change lanes. That's when he saw a car there and yanked the wheel back to the right, colliding with a guard rail, according to CHP. 

The impact caused the big rig to overturn and catch fire, CHP said. 

The driver was taken to an LA area hospital for minor injuries, CHP said.

It appeared that the big rig was carrying packages from Amazon or a similar online retailer, according to CHP. 

Fog did not appear to be a factor in the crash. Traffic was backed up for about a half mile until two lanes were reopened. All four lanes are expected to be reopened in two to three hours, CHP said.

Traffic is currently backed up for three quarters of a mile.

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UPDATE (8:11 a.m.): According to the CHP's Fort Tejon office, a big rig driver was heading south on the I-5 in the No. 4 lane when he tried to make a lane change. 

The CHP says the big driver noticed a car in the lane then tried to get back into the No. 4 lane. The driver then went too far into the lane and ran into the bridge railing, causing his trailer to overturn, leading the cab to catch fire. 

The driver suffered only minor injuries. 

There currently three lanes blocked. 

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A big rig fire on the Grapevine has caused the closure of all lanes on Southbound I-5 in Lebec.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a big rig rolled over just after 7 a.m. just north of Frazier Mountain Park Road. The big rig reportedly caught fire. 

According to a SigAlert, traffic is backed up to Lebec Road.