Police reports stated that several lanes on the northbound side of the I-5 freeway were blocked after a multiple vehicle crash.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The collision occurred just north of Lake Forest Drive at about 8:30 a.m. and at least five different vehicles were involved, according to police statements.
When paramedics arrived at the scene of the crash, the five vehicles were spread across the multiple lanes of traffic, but they were later shifted to the right shoulder of the freeway as authorities worked to clear the accident.
The crash occurred when one of the vehicles rear-ended another, and then a pile-up occurred that spread across the freeway as vehicles attempted to swerve out of the way of the damaged cars.
California Highway Patrol officer Denise Quesada reported that there were some injuries in the crash, but she did not specify what they were or identify any of the victims.
A SigAlert was issued just after 9 a.m. for the number 3, 4, and 5 lanes by traffic officials. All of the lanes were cleared about two hours later.
Luckily, this accident did not leave any of the motorists severely injured or dead. However, multiple-vehicle collisions can be some of the most deadly types of traffic accidents today.
Most likely the high fatality rate of multiple-vehicle crashes is due to the fact that many victims cannot escape their vehicles after the crash, because the impact leaves the outside of the vehicle so damaged that the doors will no longer open. Even if the occupants of the vehicle are able to escape, they could then be hit by another vehicle that is traveling too fast to be able to stop.
Multiple-vehicle crashes usually occur at high-speeds because the drivers do not have time to respond to the first collision. This increases the risk of severe injury to the occupants of the vehicle.
In the worst case scenario, part of the vehicle will catch fire from spilled gasoline, which can then spread extremely quickly across the freeway. The fire could even spread to vehicles that were not initially involved in the crash.
Sometimes, the heat from these fires can run so hot that it can damage roadways or bridges by melting the asphalt and concrete. In extreme cases, bridges have even been known to collapse because their structures have melted down. Â Recently, a crash in Los Angeles ruined a bridge after a tanker-truck carrying oil was wedged under the overpass and caught fire.
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States today, and the majority of Americans will be involved in one during their lifetime. We are a law office committed to helping you win the compensation that you deserve if you are negatively impacted by a painful car crash. Our car accident lawyer has more than 20 years’ experience dealing with insurance companies and other negligent parties that do not want to give you your necessary reimbursement. We have locations throughout California, including offices in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Bakersfield, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento. Call an Orange County car accident lawyer today for your free evaluation!
