US Traffic Chaos: California Highway 1 Partial Collapse Strands Vehicles | See PICS

Heavy storms and landslides caused a portion of Highway 1 in the Big Sur area of California to collapse, resulting in about 2,000 motorists, most of whom were tourists, being stranded overnight, on the weekend of March 30.

It was announced by officials with the California Department of Transportation that a section of the highway, extending from Lime Creek to the north and Limekiln to the south, would remain closed while crews worked on the affected areas.

California Traffic Chaos

Officials have stated that a section known as Ragged Point had been shuttered "due to slide activity north of this location". No injuries were reported. An estimate of when the highway was expected to reopen was not provided by the agency. On the afternoon of March 31, convoys with police escorts were sent by officials with the Monterey County Department of Emergency Management to evacuate people from the affected areas, as stated by Mr. Nicholas Pasculli, a county spokesman.

Many of those stranded were visitors who had been driving through the area over the Easter holiday and had to spend the night in temporary shelters, which were at 75 percent capacity, Mr. Pasculli mentioned. Others sought accommodation in local hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and campsites, while some slept in their cars.

Another convoy was scheduled for April 1 in the morning, in case crews were unable to reach everyone by the end of March 31. "We're hoping we can get all the visitors out today. That's our hope. That's our goal," Mr. Pasculli stated. "Suffice it to say, it's a holiday weekend. You know, this area is a beautiful area, and people like to come visit."

A disaster declaration was issued by Monterey County, and officials urged people to avoid the highway. "We're asking everyone to stay away from that area to allow for safe passage of emergency personnel, emergency vehicles, and essential workers," Mr. Pasculli remarked.

An unseasonably cold and vigorous storm system swept through the southwestern Pacific Coast over the weekend, bringing rain, flash flooding, and snow to parts of California and elsewhere. A flood warning remained in effect on March 31 in the San Diego area, as the storm continued to move along the coast before heading inland, according to forecasters. The Los Angeles office of the National Weather Service wrote on March 31 that rain was expected to persist with a chance of thunderstorms.