Travel advisory: Highway 46 closed all Friday morning

Highway 46 -- one of the main roads between Kern County and the coast -- was closed in both directions Friday morning after a fatal accident. The California Highway Patrol estimated it would be reopened at about 2 p.m.

A detour was in place. That route -- from Highway 46 to Highway 33 to Highway 41, and back to Highway 46 -- could add 30 to 60 minutes to the trip from Bakersfield to the coast.

The CHP urged drivers to consider alternate routes, such as Highway 58 or Highway 166.

Westbound Highway 46 was closed at Highway 33. Eastbound traffic was stopped at Highway 41.

The CHP said one person was ejected and killed just after 6 a.m. when a Honda struck a big rig hauling lettuce and strawberries. The truck caught fire.

The road will remain closed while officers investigate the accident and unload the produce from the burned truck.