Car ‘fully engulfed’ in flames stalls traffic on Hwy. 101
A vehicle fire led to a lane closure and stalled traffic Tuesday morning on Highway 101 over the Cuesta Grade.
According to its traffic incident page, CHP received a report at 11:13 a.m. of a driver that was out of their car and crying hysterically.
A report soon after said a vehicle was “fully engulfed” in flames and blocking the No. 1 northbound lane on Highway 101.
Traffic was completely stopped with black smoke seen spreading across the freeway lanes by 11:23 a.m., according to the traffic incident page.
Both northbound lanes of Highway 101 over the Cuesta Grade were open to drivers as of 12:07 p.m., according the CHP traffic incident page.
CHP officers started a traffic break just north of the Cuesta Grade summit at 11:23 a.m.
CHP then closed the No. 1 northbound lane for Cal Fire operations at 11:27 a.m.
A tow truck was called to the vehicle fire at 11:30 a.m., according to the traffic incident page.
According to Caltrans’ QuickMap, traffic was backed up from just north of Old Stage Coach Road to south of Tassajara Creek Road as of 11:40 a.m.
This story was originally published December 16, 2025 at 12:02 PM.
