Big rigs snarl traffic at Highway 238, Caldecott Tunnel area

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. - Two big rig turnovers in the East Bay early Wednesday morning caused a traffic nightmare for commuters, many of whom were late for work, had to cancel meetings or were diverted on routes out of their way. 

First, a big rig caught on fire and turned over blocking lanes of Highway 238 in San Leandro about 2:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The truck turned on its side at the connection with Interstate Highway 880. No injuries were reported, despite the contents of the rig getting damaged by flames.

Then, 12 miles away, a sod truck on Highway 24 flipped over just outside the Caldecott Tunnel in Oakland about 5 a.m., blocking westbound lanes, according to the CHP. Lanes finally reopened just before 10 a.m. 

For hours, rolls of lawn and dirt lay spilled all over the highway and drivers were being diverted to Highway 13. 

Jose Miranda of Antioch described the situation as "crazy."

"I'm already almost half an hour late for work," he said. 

Alyssa Lopez of Concord how "everyone is stuck in this traffic. I don't even know what's going to happen."

She said she was planning to hop on TikTok to pass the time. 

Traffic was so bad that some guests who were scheduled to appear on KTVU couldn't make it to the news studio in time for their morning interview and had to cancel their appearances. 

One commuter named Danny wrote on Facebook that he was caught up in the Caldecott mess. He wrote that he got off on Tunnell Road and took Broadway.

"Wasn't terrible," he wrote.

But for the drivers being diverted to Berkeley?

"That's gonna be brutal," he wrote. 

A truck carrying sod spilled over on Highway 24 outside of the Caldecott Tunnel. Sept. 11, 2024 

Traffic backed up after accident on Highway 238 in San Leandro. Sept. 11, 2024

Aerial view of a big rig that caught fire and flipped over on Highway 238 in San Leandro. Sept. 11, 2024 

Big rig caught fire and flipped over at Highway 238 and I-880 in San Leandro. Sept. 11, 2024 

Big rig caught fire and flipped over at Highway 238 and I-880 in San Leandro. Sept. 11, 2024 

Fire engines arrive after sod truck spills outside Caldecott Tunnel in Oakland. Sept. 11, 2024 

Traffic backed up after sod truck spills outside Caldecott Tunnel in Oakland. Sept. 11, 2024