[A CA Guy]

Hi, in brief, did a section of freeway collapse?
If so, did some piece above land below or what?

I was not near a radio or TV and wondered without reading 400 comments what happened lainie?

[BurbankKarl]

Pieces of concrete (I-5) were falling into the tunnel last night during the initial fire...then there were hours of explosions etc....they fear the steel has melted and that I-5 is no longer usable.

[lainie]

Good morning. The deal is, the intense fire is so hot (and has been burning for so long), they're concerned that the freeway above might no longer be structurally sound. Part of the structural issue is that ribar began to warp in the intense heat, creating an "explosion" of concrete in some areas. The accident is inside a tunnel area which runs underneath the freeway passing overhead. That's why the auto section of the 5 is closed, even though the accident occurred in the truck lanes.

As for the accident itself, rain-slicked freeway, five big rigs, pileup of 15 vehicles or so. No major injuries among those removed from the scene, but one person has yet to be accounted for. Traffic is, of course, a total nightmare.