Large trucks are blocking traffic on Highway 238 near the Caldecott Tunnel

SAN LEANDRO, California. – Two semi-trailer truck overturns in the East Bay caused traffic chaos for commuters early Wednesday morning: Many of them were late for work, had to cancel meetings or were diverted.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a semi-trailer truck caught fire, overturned and blocked lanes of Highway 238 in San Leandro around 2:30 a.m.

At the intersection with Interstate Highway 880, the truck flipped over and rolled onto its side. Although the truck's contents were damaged by the flames, no injuries were reported.

Then, according to the CHP, a lawnmower overturned 12 miles away on Highway 24 around 5 a.m. just outside the Caldecott Tunnel in Oakland, blocking the westbound lanes.

Grass was scattered all over the highway and drivers were diverted to Highway 13.

Jose Miranda of Antioch described the situation as “crazy.”

“I’m almost half an hour late for work,” he said.

Some guests scheduled to appear on KTVU were unable to make it to the news studio in time for their morning interview and had to cancel their appearances.

A commuter named Danny wrote on Facebook that he was caught up in the chaos at Caldecott. He wrote that he exited at Tunnell Road and took Broadway.

“It wasn’t bad,” he wrote.

But what about the drivers who are diverted to Berkeley?

“This is going to be brutal,” he wrote.

Traffic jam after accident on Highway 238 in San Leandro. September 11, 2024

Aerial view of a semi-truck that caught fire and overturned on Highway 238 in San Leandro. September 11, 2024

Large truck caught fire and overturned at Highway 238 and I-880 in San Leandro. September 11, 2024

Large truck caught fire and overturned at Highway 238 and I-880 in San Leandro. September 11, 2024

Fire trucks arrive after a truck spills grass outside the Caldecott Tunnel in Oakland. September 11, 2024

Traffic jam after lawn debris in front of the Caldecott Tunnel in Oakland. September 11, 2024