SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Lanes on Highway 101 are backed up on both sides near the Santa Maria River Bridge as a result of a Big Rig trailer jackknifed.
According to CHP, the initial call came in around 7:10 a.m.
The driver -- who is an Elvis impersonator -- said that when he was driving to the Conoco in Santa Maria to pick up a load, the road was wet and foggy. He started slowing down, but people went in front of him.
"So we need a lot of space in front, but people take advantage of the space and they take that away from you," said Jesus Ortega, the driver of the big rig.
"I made a point to go slow to be behind him, and right as I got behind him smoke starting coming," said Rose Spagnola, the driver behind the truck.
Ortega said he hit the brake to avoid hitting another vehicle, but he skidded out and hit the guardrail.
Traffic is backed up through Santa Maria to parts of Nipomo.
Caltrans is working to try to clear the accident.
