From California Post · · 1m 10s
Mangled Car Wreck Kills Driver on California Freeway
A mangled Kia Optima crashes into freeway pillars near Boyle Heights, killing one driver and causing hours of traffic chaos.
In brief
A mangled Kia Optima crashes into freeway pillars near Boyle Heights, killing one driver and causing hours of traffic chaos. A driver died after a Kia Optima crashed into freeway pillars near Boyle Heights, triggering a four-hour traffic backup. Originally reported by California Post.
Crash Details
A Kia Optima careened off the northbound 5 Freeway near Boyle Heights early Thursday morning, killing one person and complicating morning traffic.
Suspected DUI Driver
One concerned caller phoned the car in as a suspected DUI driver around 2:15 a.m. before the vehicle drove off the freeway and into an embankment.
SigAlert Issued
The crash caused officials to issue a SigAlert as traffic remains backed up in the Boyle Heights area. The alert was still in effect as of 6:20 a.m., spanning at least four hours.
Firefighters Work
Video footage showed firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department prying the car away from the overpass. The car’s right side was severely crushed from the impact.
Road Closure
The California Highway Police issued a hard closure of the northbound 5 Freeway to the eastbound 10 Freeway for a time. CHP officers began picking up the road closure at 6:43 a.m.
The essence
A driver died after a Kia Optima crashed into freeway pillars near Boyle Heights, triggering a four-hour traffic backup.
