MOJAVE-(VVNG.com): High winds along with high-profile vehicles were a recipe for disaster Tuesday morning in the Antelope Valley. The Mojave California Highway Patrol issued a high wind advisory at about 4:30 a.m. and numerous truck drivers pulled over as a precaution.
At about 10:15 a.m. state route 14 was closed from north of Lancaster between area D all the way through all Mojave exits, California Highway Patrol Officials said. Gusts of winds nearly 80 miles per hour wreaked havoc causing several big rigs to topple over resulting in the temporary closure. Signs were torn from the ground by the treacherous winds.
Fire officials said Tuesday morning that a total of 14 were overturned south of Mojave and four overturned big rigs on State Route 58 and State Route 14.
Lanes were re-opened to passenger vehicles at about 11:30 a.m., while the closure for high-profile vehicles remained in effect as the high gusts posed a safety risk the CHP officials said. Lanes were open to all vehicles by Tuesday night, but drivers of high-profile vehicles were reminded to drive carefully as the high wind warnings remain in effect until noon Wednesday according to the National Weather Service.
Several of the drivers of the overturned big rigs were forced to break the windshield in order to escape their vehicles, while others required assistance to free themselves. Amazingly, according to CHP officials on scene there were only minor injuries reported.
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