5 Freeway In San Clemente Reopened After Crane Accident
SAN CLEMENTE (CBSLA.com) — A 12-hour blockage on the northbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway lanes ended early Friday when authorities and workers managed to raise and remove a toppled 110-ton crane.
The northbound lanes of the freeway were reopened at 3:47 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol's online incident log.
The massive crane fell across lanes near Avenida Pico in San Clemente at about 3 p.m. Thursday after a big rig carrying it plowed into a center divider, CHP Officer John Latosquin said.
No one was injured in the crash.
The crash caused a five-mile backup, extending south beyond the San Diego County line.
One lane of the freeway was opened by late afternoon Thursday, but all the lanes were closed again at 8:45 p.m.
"This was a tricky one, because it's a crane," CHP Sgt. Alan Jones said of the crane-raising operation. "It weighs 110,000 pounds and we needed other cranes to move it.
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