One dead in FedEx truck crash on I-5

All lanes of northbound Interstate 5 reopened Thursday evening, hours after a big rig crash in Sacramento that snarled traffic and resulted in the death of a 45-year-old Elk Grove man.

The crash on the rainy freeway occurred about 6 a.m. Thursday and closed all northbound lanes at Fruitridge Road and Seamas Avenue. Two northbound lanes reopened early in the afternoon. The double-trailer Federal Express truck was traveling on southbound I-5 in heavy rain when the driver lost control of her rig, hit the center retaining wall and crossed over into the northbound lanes.

California Highway Patrol Officer Michael Bradley said the reason for the big rig going out of control is still being investigated but hydroplaning on the wet roadway could be a factor.

The big rig struck a pickup truck that was going northbound, killing that driver. The driver of the FedEx truck, which was empty, was not injured.

Traffic backed up for miles during the morning commute, extending past the Pocket Road offramp. The CHP advised motorists to use Highway 99 into Sacramento from the south, which resulted in lengthy backups on that roadway and on Sacramento surface streets.

All northbound I-5 lanes reopened at 6:15 p.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 6:37 AM.