Westbound lanes of San Mateo Bridge reopen after fatal crash

FOSTER CITY – Westbound lanes of the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge were shut down for roughly five hours following a fatal crash Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The collision happened around 2:45 p.m. at the mid-span, according to the California Highway Patrol.

All three westbound lanes were closed in the wake of the crash, snarling the afternoon commute. One lane was briefly reopened around 5:30 p.m. before being shut down again.

CHP Officer Sophie Lu said westbound traffic was diverted at Clawiter Avenue in Hayward.

Around 7:50 p.m., the CHP announced all westbound lanes had reopened.

The crash involved a car and a van, according to Lu. The car was stalled in one of the lanes when it was rear-ended by the van, she said.

The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Lu.

The driver of the van was not injured, but a passenger was taken to Stanford Health Care.

The cause of the collision is under investigation, but alcohol and drugs did not appear to play a role, Lu said.

Check back for updates.