Southbound I-880 reopens in Hayward after big rig lithium battery fire

Southbound lanes of Interstate Highway 880 in Hayward were fully reopened early Wednesday morning again, hours after a Tesla semi caught fire on the freeway, the California Highway Patrol said. At about 5:35 p.m. Tuesday, the Tesla big rig caught fire in the southbound lanes of I-880 near Route 92. By 5:45 p.m., the CHP had shut down both north and southbound lanes from Winton Avenue to Route 92 due to potential risks from hazardous smoke. The northbound lanes were reopened at 8:40 p.m. Around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, the CHP announced the southbound lanes were fully accessible again to motorists. According to the CHP, the semi s lithium battery flames were incredibly difficult to extinguish. The trucks driver only told patrol officers that the rig simply caught fire and didn t know why. No one was reported injured. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed.