Big rig carrying pineapples overturns, catches fire near Carquinez Bridge

CROCKETT, Calif. - After a nine-hour closure, all lanes of Interstate 80 in Crockett reopened Friday morning after a big rig carrying a load of canned pineapples crashed near the Carquinez Bridge, and just a mile away, a second accident turned deadly -- both accidents occurring just ahead of the long Memorial Day travel getaway weekend.

In the first accident, the rig overturned about 1:22 a.m. near Pomona Street and caught fire injuring the driver who was taken to John Muir Medical Center. CHP Sgt. John Koven credits a good Samaritan with saving the driver's life.

"He was driving behind the big rig," Koven said. "He checked to see if the driver was OK and dragged him out of the actually cab and then provided CPR." 

The accident caused 280 gallons of diesel fuel to spill onto the highway. No cans of pineapples appeared to have spilled on the road.

A hazmat crew was dispatched to clean up the spill, and traffic is being diverted to Cummings Skyway.  Lanes reopened about 10 a.m.

About a mile away, a separate crash turned deadly involving another big rig and a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle struck the rig and was taken to the hospital, the CHP said.