30-Foot Section Of I-10 Collapses Near Palm Springs

DESERT CENTER (CBSLA.com)   —   Authorities said a 30-foot section of the 10 Freeway collapsed near Palm Springs Sunday trapping a truck driver.

The collapse, blamed on heavy rains and flooding in the area, was reported just before 4:45 p.m. and shut down the freeway in both directions for hours.

Firefighters responded to the scene and began a cut and rescue operation on the eastbound side of the freeway near the Tex Wash about a half mile east of Eagle Mountain, according to Jennifer Fuhrman of the Riverside County Fire Department.

The collapse occurred about 50 miles west of Blythe and the Arizona border.

The truck driver, who sustained moderate injuries, was freed after about two hours and taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, according to the CHP.

A passenger made it out of the vehicle safely without rescuers help, the CHP reported.

The bridge collapsed into water that built up because of storms the past two days, said  the CHP