Yolo roads near Interstate 80 close for a slippery reason — coconut oil

Coconut oil: nourishing, heart-healthy — and now — the leading cause of a Friday traffic headache in Yolo County.

A waste management truck leaked coconut oil across two rural roads east of Davis, turning a rainy afternoon commute into a slippery mess and prompting closures along County Roads 32A and 105, just north of Interstate 80 and the Yolo Causeway.

“Due to a coconut oil spill, County Roads 105 and 32A are impacted,” Yolo County officials said in a statement. County Road 32A was closed between Mace Boulevard and the I-80 ramp, with the spill extending north along County Road 105 past the railroad crossing.

Cleanup crews were dispatched shortly after noon, with California Highway Patrol logs indicating that the substance caused at least one vehicle to spin out. Initial reports from the scene noted oil visibly leaking from a red-and-blue waste truck, which pulled off onto Chiles Road.

By 1:25 p.m., CHP incident logs confirmed a hard closure was in effect for County Road 32A between Mace Boulevard and Willow Slough; County Road 105 was blocked between County Roads 30 and 32A. That includes the 32A offramp from I-80.

The Department of Public Works responded with a road-cleaning service. Union Pacific Railroad was also notified to inspect nearby tracks in case the spill affected rail operations.

“Please avoid the area, use alternate routes, and drive with caution,” county officials urged in a public advisory.

No injuries were reported, and officials said they expected the greasy residue to be cleaned up by the end of the evening.