Drivers trying to escape Rialto 10 freeway jam get stuck in off-road sand trap

RIALTO, Calif. (KABC) -- Stranded in a freeway closure that could last 10 hours or more, some drivers tried off-roading to get out of the jam.

It didn't always work.

A number of cars were seen stuck in the sand along the 10 freeway in Rialto, where a deadly accident closed all lanes of the freeway for hours.

Slover Avenue may have shown up on GPS maps as a road, but in this section it is surrounded by a field of sand and the road itself is also covered with sand. One end of the road is blocked with stone barriers.

A few SUVs were able to make it through the sand trap. And at least one truck was seen towing other drivers over the rough terrain.

But a number of sedans appeared to be just simply stuck. Rialto police were on scene trying to help drivers.

RELATED: Deadly crash shuts down 10 Freeway in Rialto

The accident was reported just before 1 p.m. A semitruck barreled through a center divider, striking several other vehicles and killing at least five people.

Both sides of the freeway were initially closed. Authorities were able to get two lanes on the westbound side opened by around 5 p.m., but the eastbound side remained shut down, with hundreds of drivers trapped in the backup.