Deadly big rig crash blocked several lanes of traffic on I-680

The identity of the driver killed is not known, yet. The big rig was carrying refrigerated meat when it crashed and caused a chain-reaction crash involving four other vehicles.

One driver was killed when a big rig carrying 10,000 pounds of meat lost control and ended up in the embankment next to the freeway. The big rig triggered a chain-reaction crash involving at least four other vehicles and at one point, blocked all lanes of southbound I-680 at Mission Blvd in Fremont. The crash happened during the height of the morning commute, around 7 a.m.

The driver of the big rig remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. He declined to speak with KTVU.

CHP Officer Alexander Laverne said drugs or alcohol did not appear to be factors in the crash. As of 9:45 a.m., the two left lanes were reopened while tow trucks, a coroner's van and investigators combed through the scene.

The identity of the person killed in the crash has not been released. The CHP said it was the driver of a sedan, that had been directly behind the big rig.

One of the other vehicles involved in the crash was a utility truck with a local vacuum excavation company. The owner, Ron Patient, came to the scene to check on his employee. His employee was not physically harmed, but was stunned and shocked by what happened.

"He said it happened really quick. Traffic was backing up. He got sideswiped by the semi," said Patient. "The semi was pushing through all the other cars, and ended up right here."

Patient said his employee spoke with the big rig driver afterward, who told him his "brakes went out".

The CHP did not release information about what may have caused the crash. They estimated all lanes of southbound I-680 would likely reopen around noon today, five hours after the crash happened.

Heavy-duty tow trucks were called in to move the jack-knifed big rig off the side of the freeway. The CHP said they would not need to unload the 10,000 lbs. of meat in the trailer before towing it away.