Truck fire covers California highway in melted chocolate

UPI ^ | December 09, 2024 | Ben Hooper

[Red Badger]

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A California highway was left in a sweet and sticky state after a truck fire caused the roadway to become covered in more than 30,000 pounds of melted chocolate.

The California Highway Patrol said firefighters were summoned to the scene on westbound Interstate 580, near Grant Line Road in the Dublin area.

Crews were able to extinguish the flames engulfing the truck, but firefighters soon discovered the vehicle's cargo -- 30,000-40,000 pounds of chocolate -- had melted and was spreading across the road.

The resulting clean-up operation lasted for several hours.

Initial investigations indicated the cause of the fire was a mechanical issue with the truck's brakes. The driver was able to escape the truck and no injuries were reported.

[Red Badger]

And it happens on Dark Chocolate Day!..............

[metmom]

That is a real tragedy.

All that chocolate, gone……

[WKUHilltopper]

CA: Hersey Highway

[lee martell]

That sounds like a script for a Chocolate Santa commercial using claymation figures.

[BradyLS]

With all that sugar, it must have gone up quick! I recall a similar accident long years ago where a tractor trailer rig with a load of Snickers bars went up.

[fidelis]

[Red Badger]

[ifinnegan]

“ A California highway was left in a sweet and sticky state…”

It’s not a Highway it’s an interstate.

The author even says so later in the article.

[grey_whiskers]

Wait, wait, where were the marshnallow truck and the Graham cracker truck?

[Political Junkie Too]

The California Highway Patrol said firefighters were summoned to the scene on westbound Interstate 580, near Grant Line Road in the Dublin Tracy area.

Fixed the factual error.

-PJ

[JohnnyP]

I drive by the Ghirardelli outlet store in Lathrop, CA. a couple times a year, as I travel the I-5. It’s just south of Stockton.

It’s a small shop in the corner of a large warehouse. I asked the manager if this was their distribution center. He said it used to be, but that was moved to Tracy, leaving just the small retail outlet.

Google Maps shows their Tracy outlet is near the junction of the 580 and HWY 120.

I’m guessing it was Ghirardelli chocolate.

[Dr. Sivana]

The best I ever personally witnessed was English Muffins on Route 6 in Connecticut.

[Dr. Sivana]

It’s not a Highway it’s an interstate.

All interstates are highways. In many parts of the country, the nearby interstate is referred to as "the highway". It may not be as specific as "interstate", but it is nor inaccurate.

[Red Badger]

Well, had there been a collision with a ham and egg truck you could have had Eggs Benedict!..............

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"The California Highway Patrol..."

Erik Estrada AND melted chocolate? This day is off to a FANTASTIC start! ;)

[ifinnegan]

No. Highways have cross streets.

[Dr. Sivana]

Highways have cross streets.

Source?

From Century dictionary:

highway
/hī′wā″/
noun
1. A public road or passage; a way open to all passengers, by either land or water.
2. In law, any road or way, whether for foot-passengers, beasts of burden, or vehicles, or all, over which all persons, as members of the public, have a right to pass.
3. Figuratively, a common or easy way or course

If you can find a dictionary or other source that requires "crossroads", post it here.

[ifinnegan]

You’re saying pretty much any non-private road is a highway.

I’ve always differentiated between freeways and highways.

Freeways have on-ramps, not cross streets, no stop signs or red lights.

Interstates are freeways.

Note that as per your number two interstates or freeways are not highways. No foot-passengers or beasts of burden.

[Dr. Sivana]

All freeways and interstaes are highways, not all highways are freeways or interstates.

That’s just the definition. Usage varies by region and personal background. In Connecticut, where I grew up, the common description for the Interstate is “Highway”.

Per Co-Pilot AI:
The official name of the U.S. Interstate system is the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. It’s often simply referred to as the Interstate Highway System or Interstate System. Named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who championed its creation, the system was designed to facilitate efficient transportation across the United States and provide critical infrastructure for national defense.

So, while the term Interstate is more specific, “highway” is completely accurate.