(June 29, 2006, updated June 30) -- A traffic nightmare affected miles of the 405 freeway, northbound and southbound, from midafternoon into the evening June 29, after a truck was involved in an accident in the area of Bellflower/Woodruff that resulted in blocking the freeway in both directions.

(Photo above right is the 405 from the Temple Ave. overcrossing looking soutbound at about 5:45 p.m.)

June 30 a.m. update: CHP says that at approximately 2:20 p.m., a truck was travelling northbound on the 405 approaching Palo Verde. The truck went out of control, travelled across all lanes of traffic, struck the center wall...and the truck's driver and passenger (OC residents, men aged 36 and 47) were ejected from the vehicle. They were seriously injured and transported to a hospital.

At 2:22 p.m. CHP was on scene, and by 2:28 p.m. had declared a freeway Sigalert...with the 405's north and southbound lanes basically blocked as fuel reportedly began leaking onto some lanes and a sign post appeared damaged.

The freeway blockade pushed traffic onto LB city streets during afternoon rush hour, creating traffic jams along Spring and Willow Streets as drivers tried to find alternate routes. It took us over fifteen minutes to navigate from Spring/Walnut to Spring/Cherry. Eastbound Willow was also backed up from Grand Ave. past Lakewood Blvd.

The situation persisted into the evening hours. At 9:38 p.m., the Sigalert was extended for two more hours.