Crash, Hazmat Spill Closes Portion Of Hwy 99

Highway 99 was closed for 10 hours overnight Sunday night, after a big rig overturned between Yuba City and Live Oak.

Traffic was detoured throughout the night after a tanker truck overturned and ruptured, spilling 78,000 pounds of hazardous materials. The truck was hauling anionic emulsion, a pavement sealer. The compound spilled onto the roadway and into storm drains.

The single-vehicle accident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The highway didn’t reopen until 5 a.m. on Monday.

The 61-year-old driver, Jeffrey Nicholas of Sacramento, suffered moderate injuries.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Nicholas failed to negotiate a curve, struck a guardrail, overcorrected and overturned.

The crash demolished 250-feet of guardrail, Caltrans said.

Firefighters and hazardous materials crews worked into the night to contain and clean up the mess.

Nicholas was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

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