Flooding causes portion of I-10 to collapse in California (PHOTOS)

Updated Jul 27, 2015

Heavy rainfall in Southern California caused a section of Interstate 10 to collapse on Sunday, about 50 miles west of the Arizona border.

An elevated portion of the highway collapsed after hours of heavy rain and has cut off travel for the thousands that drive the highway through the desert to and from Southern California and Arizona, according to ABC News. A portion of the interstate has been closed indefinitely by the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).

The collapsed I-10 bridge was elevated about 15 feet above what is normally a dry ditch, but the rains flooded the area. The road gave way and crashed into the flowing floodwater below.

The collapse sent at least one vehicle into the water. The driver had to be rescued and sent to the hospital with minor injuries, while the passenger was able to escape unharmed.

Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on either side of the collapse and had no choice but to turn around for another route.

The collapse is expected to continue causing serious headaches for drivers as I-10 is the most direct route from Phoenix to Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California. Officials from CalTrans are advising drivers to use alternative routes that are hundreds of miles out of the way.

There has been no timetable set on when the bridge might be repaired and reopened.