Four people were injured in a crash that closed all but one lane of northbound Highway 101 in Redwood City for about two hours this morning, causing traffic to back up for miles.
The accident involved a big-rig and six cars, according to CHP Officer Grace Castillo. She said those hurt were taken to Stanford Hospital with minor injuries.
The CHP said the crash occurred when the truck, traveling in the far right lane, cut across all five lanes of traffic and crashed at 9:54 a.m. between Marsh Road and Woodside Road.
As it sped across the lanes, the truck hit a gray van traveling in the far left lane. The van was then rear-ended by a Nissan Sentra, Castillo said.
At the same time, a brown Audi A4 in the next lane over rear-ended a gray pick-up truck that had slowed down to avoid the truck, Castillo said. A red Honda sedan that was also in the far left lane was rear-ended by a gold Mazda as the cars tried to avoid the wreck ahead, she said.
The collision left the cab of the truck facing northbound traffic; its two empty trailers sprawled across all but one lane of traffic and the other smashed cars littering the roadway.
About 30 gallons of diesel fuel spilled out of the truck but was cleaned up by Caltrans, Castillo said. The truck was towed away at about 11:45 p.m.
Traffic inched by in one northbound lane until about noon, when all lanes were re-opened. Northbound traffic was backed up as far as Mountain View and southbound rubber-neckers kept traffic slow through San Carlos.