.jpg "A traffic jam is seen on Interstate 5 where a tractor-trailer dumped lumber near Q Street on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.")
A traffic jam is seen on Interstate 5 where a tractor-trailer dumped lumber near Q Street on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
Caltrans District 3
A big rig that spilled a load of lumber on Interstate 5 in downtown Sacramento snarled Friday’s morning commute and backed up traffic for hours as crews cleared the freeway.
The truck collided with the center divider on southbound I-5 near the J Street exit about 5:35 a.m., heavily damaging the vehicle.
The crash sent lumber across the southbound lanes and blocked the No. 1 and No. 2 lanes of northbound I-5, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs reviewed by The Sacramento Bee.
Caltrans District 3 cameras showed bumper-to-bumper traffic backed up on I-5 near Q Street.
One person was taken to Sutter Medical Center by the Sacramento Fire Department, the logs showed.
CHP officers initiated a traffic break to help motorists avoid the debris.
One lane of northbound I-5 near the scene remained closed at 8:20 a.m. as officers prepared to stop southbound traffic so crews could remove the heavily damaged truck, according to CHP logs.
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The Sacramento Bee
Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.