Lorenzo Bridge opens after crash

Police say a semi truck was trying to pass a tow truck on the Lorenzo Bridge just after 3:30 Monday morning, when the semi slipped, came apart and smashed through barriers on both sides of northbound U.S. 20.

The tow truck hit the trailer of the semi.

The driver of the tow truck would not talk on camera, but said us just as he began to collect himself, another semi came crashing through the wreckage.

Drivers of both semis, along with a passenger in the tow truck and a man who was sleeping in the back of the flipped semi were rushed to the hospital.

The tow truck driver, who spoke with everyone involved with the accident, said none of the injuries seemed too serious, but state trooper Andrew Nakashima says the likely cause of the crash is incredibly serious.

“(Freezing fog) is really deceptive because the road may look dry,” Nakashima said.

While drivers can see nothing but the haze in the air, freezing fog also creates a near invisible sheet of ice on the roads.

“Pay attention to the weather conditions,” Nakashima urged. “Of course in weather like this, just slow down.”

Reducing speed could mean the difference between a painfully slow drive, or a painful recovery in the hospital.

Transportation officials said they were just minutes away from sending a sand truck to the icy bridge when the accident happened.

Whenever there’s a big car accident in our area, viewers often send us pictures of the wreckage so we can get it on the air and online. We appreciate and encourage the help, but please do not take those pictures if it’s not safe to do so.