Boulder Crash Impacts Traffic On Mono Way

Photo by Tracey Petersen

Update at 12:45 p.m.: Traffic is moving freely once again after a big rig collided with a boulder while pulling out of the Sonora Plaza around 11 a.m. It took two tries to free a boulder that got stuck underneath a semi-trailer and was blocking the westbound lane of Mono Way near the Greenley Road intersection. The driver was pulling out of the shopping center exit between Wells Fargo and Big O’Tires when the back trailer tires collided with the boulder. Dragging it, a stop sign, and another sign stating, “Steep driveway, no trucks, trailers, or RVs.” It also caused a section of the rock to break off.

Initially, officers and a city public works crew tied a rope around the boulder to drag it out from under the trailer, but it snapped. Then they used heavy straps, and as the video shows, that did the trick, freeing the boulder. After that, a backhoe was used to scoop up the rock. However, the truck’s brakes had locked up, not allowing it to be moved. About 10 minutes later, the driver was able to repair them and move the big rig.

Traffic was stalled for about half an hour, with motorists being detoured around the crash site.

Original post written by BJ Hansenb at 11:12 a.m.: Sonora, CA — The Sonora Police Department reports that there is a crash that is notably impacting westbound traffic on Mono Way at the Greenley Road intersection.

A big rig truck somehow collided with a nearby boulder in the landscaping and dragged it into the intersection, completely blocking the westbound lane. Emergency responders are on scene. You will want to avoid the area if possible because traffic is getting backed up at the intersection. We’ll pass along more information as it becomes available.