Two Big Rigs Crash on I-5, 1 Killed

One big rig collided into the rear of another and caught fire this morning at 6 am in southbound lanes of Interstate 5 near Castaic. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported the crash occurred near Smokey Bear Road and the southbound lanes of the I-5 were closed until one lane was opened at 7:30 am following the crash. One of the drivers did not survive the crash.

One driver was taken to a hospital. CHP later reported that the other driver was killed. The driver has not been identified. The fire caused a brush fire in the area. The northbound lanes of the freeway were not closed. In addition to the one southbound lane on the I-5 that has been open since 7:30 am, one eastbound lane on Highway 58 is open for use. Before 7:30 am, traffic traveling south was redirected to a detour through Highway 138. Authorities recommend taking the coast to get to Los Angeles.

A separate accident occurred on I-5 on Thursday last week when a 1994 Lexus sedan collided with a 2002 Toyota Sequoia that was pulled over on the southbound side of the freeway near Gene Autry Way and the State College Boulevard exit. The Sequoia’s right-rear tire was flat and a young male, 16, was attempting to change it while the driver and two young girls were sitting in the vehicle.

The Lexus attempted to change lanes on the right-hand side and collided with the Sequoia at 9:30 pm. The driver of the Lexus, a 20-year-old male, was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange; his injuries were moderate. The 16-year-old male changing the tire was taken to the same hospital with major injuries. The driver of the Sequoia, later identified as Jose Manuel Diaz, 56, was killed. The young girls had minor injuries and were taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. The crash is under investigation and it is believed that neither driver was intoxicated.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a big rig accident, you can contact a Los Angeles big rig accident lawyer at AA Accident Attorneys for a free evaluation of your case. Our legal team will fight for your legal rights and build a case so you can obtain the compensation you deserve. We fight for justice and will file your case for you and represent you so that you can obtain compensation for your pain and suffering, injuries, emotional trauma, expensive medical bills, wages lost if you could not go to work and damages to your vehicle.

At AA Accident Attorneys, we have a 98% success rate and more than 40 years of collective legal experience. Our knowledgeable and experienced staff will navigate you through the complicated legal process as you recover from your injuries. Additionally, we will not charge you for your case unless we win it. Call us today for a free evaluation. We can give you an evaluation over the phone, online, at our offices, at your home or at your hospital room.