Flash flooding washes out eastbound Interstate 10 near California-Arizona border

Flash flooding from intense storms washed out the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 close to the California-Arizona border Wednesday evening.

Authorities acquired stories of seven overturned tractor-trailers with one individual injured, mentioned Sharon Leath, a California Freeway Patrol dispatcher. Leath didn’t know the extent of the individual’s accidents.

Floodwater closed the eastbound freeway at mile marker 121, about 16 miles east of Desert Middle, Leath mentioned. Westbound lanes remained open, however site visitors was shifting slowly Wednesday evening.

Different routes, together with Freeway 62, Freeway 177 and Freeway 78, have been additionally flooded, Leath mentioned.

Eastbound site visitors on the ten was being circled at Corn Springs Highway, mentioned Emily Leinen, a Caltrans District 8 spokesperson.

Drivers have been being informed to return west on the interstate due to persisting floodwater on native detours, Leinen mentioned.

Downed energy strains hampered efforts to revive site visitors to Freeway 177, she mentioned. Southern California Edison crews have been working to clear the downed strains Wednesday evening.

The most effective obtainable detour was prolonged, Leinen mentioned. Drivers must head south to San Diego earlier than heading east into Arizona.

Authorities suggested drivers to remain put and wait out the flood at relaxation areas if they might, she mentioned.

Caltrans crews will assess the injury to the ten on Thursday, Leinen mentioned. An estimate of how lengthy repairs might take was not obtainable.

As much as 3 inches of rain fell alongside the ten east of Desert Middle, producing “life threatening flash flooding,” the Nationwide Climate Service in Phoenix mentioned.

A supervisor with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Division’s Colorado River Station in Blythe informed The Instances there have been no main flood-related incidents.

Additional info was not obtainable Wednesday evening.