Fatal big-rig accident shuts Hwy. 50 for several hours
Publisher’s note: Highway 50 reopened at 11:44pm July 12.
Highway 50 leading to South Lake Tahoe is closed at Sly Park because of a fatal accident involving a big-rig.
The name of the truck driver is not being released until next of kin is notified. He was from Missouri and in his 40s.
Diesel has reported spilled across all lanes of traffic, with environmental cleanup crews called to the scene.
The California Highway Patrol is expecting the road open about 11pm.
The accident occurred about 4:40pm July 12 when the truck driver, who was headed west, apparently lost his brakes, hit a pickup and both vehicles went into the embankment, authorities report.
The extent of the pickup driver’s injuries was not available.
Traffic was being diverted onto Mormon Emigrant Trail and to Highway 88.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
We were returning to Sacramento on Hwy 50 last night, and were turned around at Pioneer Trail. A long line of vehicles was waiting there. No one was telling anyone anything…the electric sign just said “road closed. Accident ahead” or words to that effect. So we decided to drive around the west side of the lake and take I-80 home. It added another hour to our trip…but traffic was light. We were sorry to hear about the truck driver being killed. That highway wasn’t meant for that kind of vehicle with all of the steep hills, turns, etc.
I was coming back from Cameron Park and they stopped traffic at Sly Park Rd. What was weird was that the CalTrans worker who spoke to me was friendly. But he said if I had to make it back to Tahoe I should go back to 49 to get on 88. Then I asked him, “What about Sly Park Rd. right here to get to 88?” And then he said, “But you might get lost.” He then proceeded to give me very wrong directions which if I’d followed I would’ve gotten lost. Anyway, that is a very scenic, albeit significantly longer, drive!
My husband & I were returning on Highway 50 from our honeymoon weekend, when we were stopped around the bend from where the accident happened. When we saw the helicopter circling around trying to find somewhere to land, we knew it would be serious. We turned around on the road and took Highway 80 home. Our prayers go out to the families of the drivers involved.