**BREAKING: CHOPSTICK APOCALYPSE STRIKES CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY**
In a bizarre incident that has left residents of California scratching their heads, a massive avalanche of chopsticks brought traffic to a grinding halt on Highway 101 yesterday evening.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as “surreal” and ” utterly bewildering” as thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of chopsticks came crashing down onto the highway, covering multiple lanes and sending drivers scrambling for cover.
“I was just driving to get a burrito when suddenly I was surrounded by a sea of wooden sticks,” said local resident, Dave Chen. “I thought it was some kind of prank gone wrong, but then I saw a car try to drive through the chopstick forest and it was like something out of a cartoon.”
The chopsticks, which appeared to be of varying lengths and materials, seemed to have come from nowhere and were strewn across the highway, causing massive congestion and gridlock.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said CHP Officer, Jane Smith. “We’re not sure where they came from, but we’re working on the theory that maybe a giant Chinese restaurant supply closet exploded or something.”
As authorities struggled to clear the chopsticks, drivers were forced to navigate the treacherous terrain, with some even attempting to drive through the stick-filled lanes.
“It was like a real-life game of Frogger,” said commuter, Mark Davis. “I swerved to avoid one stick and ended up hitting another. I’m pretty sure I’m going to have chopstick-induced PTSD for the rest of my life.”
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has promised to send in a team of experts to investigate the Great Chopstick Invasion and work on a plan to clear the highway.
In the meantime, residents are advised to steer clear of the area and to bring snacks, as the cleanup efforts are expected to take several days, possibly even weeks.
**UPDATE:** The Governor of California has declared a state of emergency and has dispatched a team of highly trained chopstick-removal specialists to the area. Residents are advised to stay tuned for further updates and to keep their sense of humor about them. After all, as one resident quipped, “only in California, folks!”
