The northbound 5 Freeway in San Clemente was expected to remain shut down for up to 10 hours after a crane overturned in lanes Thursday afternoon.
The truck overturned just after 3 p.m., leaving its crane blocking all lanes and also taking out the cement center divider, according to a California Highway Patrol incident report.
A SigAlert was issued about 3:15 p.m. on the northbound 5 Freeway just south of Avenida Pico (map), according to CHP. Just after 5 p.m., CHP said the closure could last eight to 10 hours.
Northbound traffic was jammed to the entrance to Camp Pendleton, aerial video showed. Hydraulic fluid was spilled in the roadway and needed to be cleaned up, according to CHP.
Traffic appeared to be getting by slowly on the right shoulder just before 6 p.m.
Debris was in the southbound lanes initially, but those lanes were soon cleared and flowing.
Skid marks crossed from the right-hand side of the freeway to the left-hand side and then back again.
As of 12:30 p.m. the crane was still blocking lanes, but the CHP said they expected the freeway to be reopened by 2 a.m.
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