The Tesla vehicle reportedly crashed into a tree before the battery caught fire and released toxic fumes.
According to authorities, large trucks caught fire on Monday morning, leading to the closure of Interstate 80 in California.
The truck caught fire around 3 a.m., about 70 miles northeast of Sacramento, according to a post on the California Highway Patrol’s Facebook page. The highway was closed in both directions. The eastbound lanes were opened first, and at 7:15 p.m., more than 16 hours after the fire started, the westbound lanes were reopened.
USA TODAY has contacted the California Highway Patrol for more information.
What kind of truck was that?
The semi-trailer was a Tesla, KCRA and CBS reported.
According to KCRA, the truck left the road and struck a tree. Its battery then caught fire, closing the highway after releasing toxic fumes that posed an inhalation hazard.
Several firefighters were needed to extinguish the fire. To prevent the fire from spreading to the surrounding forest, a fire retardant had to be flown to the scene by plane, Jason Lyman of the California Highway Patrol told KCRA.
The driver was taken to the hospital, KCRA reported. The accident is currently under investigation.
Julia is a trends reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered a variety of topics, from local business and government in her hometown of Miami to technology and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram And TikTok: @juliamariegz
