Jackknifed big rig and collision closes Highway 50 over Echo Summit temporarily

Both lanes of Highway 50 over Echo Summit were closed at times Thursday afternoon after a westbound big rig truck jackknifed near the Sierra at Tahoe turnoff.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the truck slide on the highway at 2:14 p.m., prior to chain controls going up. It jackknifed and ended up in a ditch. A person driving a Toyota 4-runner, also westbound, was slowing to avoid the truck and was rear-ended by a Hyundai that could not be stopped in time.

Traffic was reduced to one lane for two hours, then at 3:48 p.m. both lanes were closed for a tow truck to get the big rig out of the ditch. As of 4:20 p.m., one-lane of traffic was moving.

There is no estimated time for full opening of the highway.

Expect road controls until Saturday when the current storm system moves out of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

8"-14" of snow is forecast to fall at Lake Level Thursday and Thursday night.