Truck causes traffic tie-up

A truck carrying a roll-off bin created a traffic jam at the intersection of Spring Road and Los Angeles Avenue Tuesday afternoon.

"It appears that the load of the truck was not balanced or that it was not loaded in a safe manner," said Sgt. Craig Smith of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

When the truck attempted to make a left turn from Spring Road to go west on Los Angeles Avenue, the load shifted and tipped the box, which loosened and eventually tipped the entire truck over at the northwest corner of L.A. Avenue.

The truck fell on a telephone pole and a box that powers the traffic light at the intersection. The flashing red lights continued to work for about two hours with a battery backup until power went out entirely.

Traffic in the area was snarled for hours until power was restored and the truck was removed.

No one was injured during the incident, which involved no other vehicles. Electric power to residential customers and businesses was not interrupted, authorities said.

- - Sylvie Belmond