Speeding cars force accident, rig spills 27 tons of dirt on I-680 in Pleasanton: CHP

PLEASANTON, Calif. - About 27 tons of dirt spilled early Friday morning on a highway in Pleasanton, causing some lanes to be closed for nine hours, after two speeding cars that were chasing each other caused a big rig to overturn, according to the California Highway Patrol.

"We had calls of two reckless vehicles," CHP Officer Kevin Johnson told KTVU. 

The CHP said one of the cars might have been traveling at speeds of 100 mph, when the crash occurred just before 5 a.m. on southbound Interstate Highway 680 north of Bernal Avenue. Witnesses said two cars might have been racing and the white Honda Civic that sideswiped the big rig, causing it to hit a guardrail and flip over is still outstanding, Johnson said.

The CHP is considering that driver responsible for a felony hit and run. 

The rig turned on its side and the dirt spilled onto the road. The CHP reported one minor injury.

Commuters were instructed to use alternate routes as all three lanes were blocked at one point. All lanes reopened at 2;09 p.m. 

Anyone with information about the hit-and run should call the CHP at 925-828-0466.