Crash on 605 Freeway in Whittier snarls traffic during morning rush hour

Overturned semi spills dirt, rocks across 605 Freeway

Traffic was snarled on both sides of the 605 Freeway in Whittier Thursday morning.

WHITTIER, Calif. - It was a traffic nightmare for commuters on both sides of the 605 Freeway in Whittier Thursday morning after a multi-vehicle crash involving a dump truck spilled debris onto the roadway.

A SigAlert was issued on the northbound and southbound lanes of the freeway, with those seeking detours clogging the surface streets in the area as well.

Investigators with the California Highway Patrol said a pick-up truck collided with a dump truck shortly after entering the northbound side of the freeway.

The collision caused the dump truck carrying dirt and concrete to overturn and sent debris flying into southbound traffic and damaging at least three other vehicles.

Both truck drivers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Initially, all lanes on both sides of the freeway were shut down. CHP officers got to work and used shovels to move the debris. The lanes on the southbound side reopened with a few lanes opened on the north side as crews worked to clear the mess off the roadway.