A sanitation truck erupted in flames on the southbound Interstate 5 Freeway in Arleta Tuesday afternoon, triggering significant lane closures and causing major traffic disruptions.
The incident occurred around 3:10 p.m. near the Osborne Street on-ramp, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The vehicle, identified as a City of Los Angeles sanitation truck, was observed with "heavy flames" underneath its chassis. The driver was seen attempting to extinguish the blaze with a fire extinguisher.
The fire led to the complete closure of all southbound lanes of the I-5 by approximately 3:45 p.m. The situation was exacerbated shortly after 4 p.m. when multiple drivers, trapped in the resulting traffic congestion, began making illegal U-turns to exit via the on-ramp.
By 4:15 p.m., authorities began the process of reopening some lanes. However, as of 4:20 p.m., several lanes remained inaccessible. The timing of the incident on election day raised concerns about potential impacts on voters attempting to reach polling stations before the 8 p.m. deadline.
