Overturned big rig spills gallons of syrup onto 10 Freeway in Fontana

Cleanup efforts continue as all westbound lanes remain closed indefinitely.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:19am by Ben Kaplan

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A semi-truck overturned on the 10 Freeway in Fontana, California, spilling hundreds of gallons of syrup across the westbound lanes. The thick liquid quickly spread, creating an inch-thick layer that has proven difficult to clear, leading to an indefinite closure of the freeway as crews work to vacuum up the mess.

Why it matters

The syrup spill has caused major traffic disruptions in the area, with all westbound lanes of the 10 Freeway closed as cleanup efforts continue. The incident highlights the challenges authorities face in dealing with large-scale spills of unusual substances on major highways.

The details

According to the California Highway Patrol, the semi-truck overturned just after 11:20 a.m. near the Citrus Avenue exits. The cause of the overturning is still unknown, but once the trailer ruptured, the thick syrup began pouring out and quickly spread across all four westbound lanes. Several attempts to absorb or dissolve the syrup have been unsuccessful, leading to an extended closure as crews use a vacuum truck to suck up the sticky mess.

  • The incident occurred just after 11:20 a.m. on Monday, March 17, 2026.
  • As of 6 p.m. the same day, the westbound lanes remained closed with no timetable for reopening.

The players

California Highway Patrol

The state law enforcement agency responding to and managing the incident on the 10 Freeway.

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What’s next

Crews will continue working to clear the syrup from the roadway, with no definitive timeline provided for when the westbound 10 Freeway will reopen to traffic.

The takeaway

This unusual spill incident on a major California highway underscores the challenges authorities face in dealing with unexpected and difficult-to-clean-up messes that can cause significant traffic disruptions for an extended period.