Interstate 80 in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains is currently closed following an incident involving an electric Tesla Semi that went off the road in the early morning hours. The truck’s large battery pack and the isolated crash site have complicated firefighting efforts, prompting authorities to keep the vital highway shut with no timeframe for reopening.
As reported by a KCRA 3 broadcast, the Tesla was navigating the Sierra Madre in Placer County when it veered off the road near Nyack, CA, around 3:13 a.m. The circumstances surrounding the truck’s loss of control remain unclear. Unlike traditional diesel semis that utilize engine braking to prevent brake overheating on steep descents, the technologically advanced Tesla could have experienced a range of mechanical or electrical failures, or even operator error. Regardless of the cause, the ensuing fire presents an extraordinary challenge for emergency services.
Due to the Tesla Semi’s significantly larger battery pack, firefighters lack a standard approach for tackling a fire involving such a vehicle. Currently, their strategy is to allow the batteries to burn out naturally, which may take several days. The site’s undeveloped surroundings have further complicated containment efforts, as the absence of nearby hydrants has required firefighters to use a portable reservoir supplied by tanker trucks.
Firefighters are also rotating shifts on site because the smoke emitting from the wreck is considered “toxic,” according to a California Highway Patrol official during the broadcast. As a precaution, they are equipped with full protective gear, including oxygen tanks. Consequently, CalTrans and the CHP have established a half-mile exclusion zone to ensure public safety. This has resulted in westbound traffic being rerouted as far as the Nevada state line, and I-80 will remain closed until further notice.
There has been no report on the condition of the truck driver.
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