UPDATE (2:48 p.m.) - Caltrans says the highway is back open.
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ORIGINAL STORY: Traffic along Southbound Highway 101 through the Atascadero area was moving slowly Thursday afternoon hours after a big rig crashed off the highway overnight.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of a big rig carrying hot asphalt fell asleep at the wheel around 1:40 a.m. The truck drifted to the right shoulder before crashing through a fence and dumping the asphalt onto private property south of Santa Barbara Road.
CHP says no other vehicles were involved. The driver from Oceano was not injured and no arrests were made.
Caltrans crews were out on the highway into Thursday afternoon working to repair damaged guardrail and CHP said crews were also still working to remove the crashed truck.
Drivers should expect delays if heading through the area.
Caltrans says work is expected to wrap up around 4 p.m.
