SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Strong winds forced the closure of Interstate 8 at East Willows Road from Alpine to Ocotillo for much of the day Thursday to high profile vehicles.

California Highway Patrol Officers and Caltrans workers directed those drivers to pull over and many spent hours waiting along side streets and roads.

It came after two semi-trucks overturned early Thursday morning, one in Pine Valley and the other in the Buckman Springs area.

“You slow it down and let your dispatcher know I can’t be driving here in California. I have to slow down I may be late,” said truck driver Mike Durazo.

In his 22 years as a truck driver, Durazo been involved in one crash and says winds are very dangerous.

“It’s like a bomb went on inside because that’s a sleeper … and there’s bunks back there and closers, and doors went open and everything fell out,” said Durazo.

He was one of dozens of truck drivers waiting it out in Alpine until the closure opened late afternoon.

“The biggest concern with high winds and big rigs with trailers is when they’re empty, they tend to blow over. They get a wind gust and blow over and for safety of them and other drivers, we like to not keep them going through,” said Officer Brian Silber with the California Highway Patrol.

SDG&E also continued public safety power shutoffs throughout the day, impacting more than 16,000 customers in areas like El Cajon, Alpine, Ramona and Pine Valley.

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