California lemon spill causes sour mess

California and Arizona produce 95 percent of the U.S. lemon crop, according to Sunkist.

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Thousands of lemons and oranges spilled from an overturned tractor-trailer in Corona, Calfornia, Wednesday evening, making a mess it took authorities hours to clean up.

Cal Trans traffic operations officer, Mike Atilano said the accident happened at about 9 p.m. (6 p.m. PST) when the driver of the double tractor-trailer exited the north-bound lanes of I-15. According to Atilano, as the driver turned right off the freeway exit ramp, the cargo spilled from at least one of the 2 trailers onto Magnolia Avenue, a six lane road in the city of Corona.

California Highway Patrol and Corona Police sent officers to direct traffic and assist the stunned motorists at the scene after several motorists found themselves unable to stop and were caught in the deluge of citrus.