18 vehicles get flat tires after hitting debris on 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar

Nearly two dozen vehicles, including a semi-truck, were damaged early Friday morning after striking debris scattered across the westbound 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar, authorities said.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the incident began around 3:25 a.m. near Diamond Bar Boulevard when drivers began reporting a large metal object in the middle lanes. CHP said at least 18 vehicles, including a big rig, struck the debris, causing multiple flat tires and puncturing one vehicle’s oil pan.

Officers from CHP’s Baldwin Park Area office responded to the scene and later identified the object as a driveshaft, which they moved off the freeway. Crews requested several tow trucks to assist stranded motorists, and by sunrise, most of the damaged vehicles had been safely relocated off the freeway at Grand Avenue, officials said.

No injuries were reported.

Video from stringer service KNN shows several vehicles pulled over on the shoulder with flat tires and hazard lights flashing as tow trucks arrived. In footage obtained by KNN, driver Zayra, who was on her way to work, described the frightening moment her car hit the debris.

“I was coming down the 60 and my car hit something that was in the middle of a lane,” she told KNN. “I kind of had to swerve between three to four lanes to get control of the vehicle. I made it to the edge of the freeway, and there’s oil everywhere. I saw a lot of cars hit the debris—there were maybe ten by the time I pulled over.”

“I’m shaking, I really am,” she added. “But I’m okay.”

The debris caused significant traffic delays through the early-morning commute as tow crews worked to clear the disabled vehicles and spilled oil from the roadway.

CHP is investigating where the driveshaft came from.