A truck and a sedan collided at about 9:44 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, on northbound Interstate 5 near the Washington Street off-ramp in San Diego's Mission Hills neighborhood, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash sent the truck over the center divider, leaving its cab hanging over the freeway into the southbound side.

Source: CDLLife / NBC San Diego / CHP

San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson Candace Hadley said the truck's cab was on fire when firefighters arrived and fuel had spilled across the freeway. All four people in the sedan were transported to hospital; the extent of their injuries was not known. Two men in the truck refused medical care.

Source: American Truck Drivers / San Diego Fire-Rescue

9:44 a.m.Crash reported, Tue Oct 20, northbound I-5 at Washington St
4People in sedan taken to hospital
2People in truck who refused medical care

Hours of delays in both directions

The CHP diverted southbound traffic at Sassafras Street, with backups stretching toward State Route 163, and only a couple of lanes open on each side at one point, according to FOX 5 / KUSI reporting summarized by trucking outlets. By about 4:15 p.m. all southbound lanes had reopened, while northbound lanes near Washington Street remained partly blocked for cleanup.

Source: CDLWire / FOX 5 / KUSI

Caltrans sent a hazardous-materials crew for the fuel spill, crews covered spilled fuel with dirt and a crane was used to remove the truck, FOX 5 reported. The CHP said the truck driver's company was responsible for the hazmat cleanup, while Caltrans handled repairs to the damaged divider. The cause of the crash remained under investigation.

Source: CDLWire / FOX 5 / CHP

What is solid

  • A truck-sedan crash at about 9:44 a.m. Oct 20 on northbound I-5 at Washington Street left the truck hanging over the center divider with a fuel spill and brief fire, per CHP and San Diego Fire-Rescue via NBC San Diego, FOX 5/KUSI and trucking outlets.
  • Four sedan occupants were hospitalized and two truck occupants refused care, per Fire-Rescue spokesperson Candace Hadley via multiple reports.

What is only claimed

  • Vehicle description differs by source — Fire-Rescue/NBC described a box truck, while CHP-linked reports called it a semi truck; this article uses 'truck' throughout. Injury severity was not released.