Highway 17 Southbound Shut Down Following Gas Tanker Crash in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz county, CA - September 4, 2025, 10:30 AM PDT – A significant traffic disruption is impacting commuters in Santa Cruz County this Thursday morning after a gas tanker truck crashed on Highway 17, forcing the complete closure of the southbound lanes.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to the scene at approximately 6:45 a.m.just south of Sugarloaf Road. As of 1:45 p.m., the southbound direction remains closed, with the CHP warning via a social media post that the shutdown could extend into the evening. Traffic is currently being diverted to the left lane of northbound Highway 17,while the right lane remains open for northbound travel.
Initial reports confirmed by the CHP indicate the tanker overturned, with a portion of the vehicle going down an embankment. A leak was detected from two loaded tanks, and authorities estimate the truck was carrying approximately 8,600 gallons of fuel.
The driver of the tanker was able to exit the vehicle but sustained a visible head injury. The extent of the driver’s injuries remains unknown at this time.
The CHP has closed both southbound lanes of Highway 17 at Sugarloaf Road and has also closed the far left lane in the northbound direction at Vine Hill Road. as of 8:00 a.m., officers were actively turning around vehicles attempting to travel southbound just south of the Summit Road exits, an area popular for its restaurants.
This is a developing situation. World-Today-News.com will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
Contributing to this report: Jason Green
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