California Highway Patrol shut down an icy Interstate 8 overnight leaving dozens of drivers stranded for hours as crews attempted to plow the roadway.
Both westbound and eastbound lanes of I-8 from State Route 79 to E. Willows Road were completely shut down at about 10 p.m. Thursday due to a covering of “black ice” that was making driving hazardous.
The term black ice comes from the seemingly black color ice gets when it freezes so solidly it becomes clear, allowing the often black street below to show through, according to the U.S. Forrest Service.
The closure halted traffic and left several drivers stopped on the highway. Many exited E. Willow Road to turn around while others slept in their cars to wait for the roadway to reopen.
Dan Beasley was heading eastbound, on his way home from work when he got stuck on the closed roadway. He waited for three hours on the interstate before officials told him the roadway may not reopen until daylight.
An official at the scene told NBC 7 the closure could last until 9 a.m.
No other information was available.
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Source: NBC San Diego
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