Jackknifed big rig causes major backup on 101 Freeway in Calabasas

CALABASAS, Calif. (KABC) -- A jackknifed big rig caused a seven-hour backup on the 101 Freeway at Las Virgenes Road on Saturday.

The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. The truck was heading eastbound on the freeway when the driver lost control, knocked out about 20 feet of the center divider and partially ended up on the westbound side of the freeway.

The smashed cab blocked two westbound lanes, and the trailer blocked three eastbound lanes. There was also a 10- to 15-gallon oil spill as a result of the crash.

By late Saturday night, lanes on both sides of the freeway began to reopen.

Officers said it could have been a lot worse.

This one could have been bad," said Officer Steven Geraty of the California Highway Patrol. "There was a motorcycle that almost got hit by the big rig and was only hit by debris. Seconds and inches could have been the difference between life and death.

The big rig struck three cars traveling in the opposite direction. The driver and several people were taken to the hospital. None of their injuries were life-threatening.

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