Highway near Manteca closed for hours during standoff

MANTECA -- Wednesday's evening commute became a nightmare for many drivers as authorities closed Highway 99 near Manteca during a standoff with a man in a propane truck.

The state Department of Transportation reported the closure of Highway 99 for nearly three hours on Wednesday night. Traffic in both directions came to a standstill, and nearby roads were clogged.

Reports indicate the man, whose name has not been released, drove into a propane tank and then barricaded himself in a truck near Austin and Highway 99 in the Manteca-Ripon area.

After several hours of negotiations, officers took the man into custody and reopened the freeway.