Southbound I880 reopens in Hayward after big rig lithium battery fire
Oct 27, 2026
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 9
2. 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.
...read more
read less