A big rig carrying a trailer with granulated citric acid
overturned Wednesday morning on Highway 152 east of the Romero’s
Visitor Center on the Merced County side of the pass, according to
the California Highway Patrol.
A big rig carrying a trailer with granulated citric acid overturned Wednesday morning on Highway 152 east of the Romero’s Visitor Center on the Merced County side of the pass, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The accident resulted in the closure of one westbound lane for 10 hours.
Traveling eastbound, the driver of the truck failed to negotiate a right-hand curve in the roadway, causing his vehicle to travel onto the center median where it overturned on its left side, according to a CHP report.
A 1000-kilogram container of the critic acid ruptured, spilling its contents on the dirt and gravel of the center median. Officers discovered the spilled material on arrival and determined it was hazardous, according to the CHP.
Citric acid is an organic chemical often used in food and cleaning substances.
The driver was transported to a nearby hospital with major injuries.
The accident was first reported at 6:54 a.m. Wednesday.
