A horrific fatal crash involving three vehicles on northbound Interstate 680 in Walnut Creek closed lanes in both directions Friday morning, causing major traffic backups in the East Bay.
CHP initially reported the serious injury crash around 6:20 a.m. Friday in the northbound lanes of I-680 just before Rudgear Rd. Exit. The scene of the accident was so large that it closed the northbound 1-3 lanes of I-680 and the first southbound lane of the highway, bringing traffic in both directions to a virtual standstill for a time.
All southbound lanes had reopened by 7:21 a.m., although heavy southbound traffic continued to move through the area until 9 a.m.
It took much longer for the northbound lanes to clear. A photo shared on social media by the CHP’s Contra Costa County office showed at least one of the vehicles involved on its side.
CHP later confirmed there was one fatality in the collision. Further details about the circumstances of the crash and any other injuries were not immediately available.
CHP said the scene was clear and all northbound lanes of I-680 reopened at 10:17 a.m. It took more than four hours to completely clear the collision from the highway.
