Big rig overturns, ignites in flames on Porter Creek Road

Traffic stopped on Porter Creek Road for several hours Monday after a big rig crashed into a sedan, causing the rig to tip over and burst into flames and leaving both drivers with major injuries, authorities said.

The flames spread to nearby vegetation but firefighters quickly extinguished the fire following the 1:30 p.m. collision on Porter Creek Road near Wilson Road, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said. The crash occurred near a major curve in the roadway.

The rig was hauling two trailers, including one filled with gravel, when it crashed into a Honda Civic, Sloat said.

The impact of the collision caused one of the trailers to overturn and the rig’s cab caught fire. The cab and trailers were burned to crumpled metal shells.

Both drivers were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Sloat said.

The road was shut until 3 p.m. when officers began directing one-way traffic, but was shut again at about 3:30 p.m. while a heavy wrecker cleared the roadway.

The road reopened at 7:30 p.m., according to the CHP.

Porter Creek Road is a winding rural thoroughfare in the mountains between Santa Rosa and Calistoga.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.