California Highway Patrol Seeks Charges Against Company in Tanker Fire

The California Highway Patrol says it’s seeking criminal charges against a trucking company over a poorly maintained fuel tanker that burst into flames on a Los Angeles County freeway in December.

The fire burned an overpass so badly it had to be demolished.

CHP Sgt. Robert Marquez said in Friday’s San Gabriel Valley Tribune an investigation found a driveshaft in the truck came loose and punctured the tank it was pulling, causing sparks that ignited the Dec. 14 fire. It burned for hours and forced the closure of State Route 60 in Montebello for days.

CHP officials say the case was previously turned over to the district attorney, but returned to them for more investigation.

A message for a representative of the trucking company, Cool Transports, was not immediately returned.