A two stage collision involving a semi-truck and two passenger vehicles ignited a fire that engulfed the entirety of one of the vehicle and left two dead early Tuesday morning in Granada Hills.
According to reports from the California Highway Patrol, the crash took place at around 3:40 a.m. in the westbound lanes of the 118 Freeway, just east of White Oak Avenue, where a vehicle believed to be made by Toyota crashed into the back of a semi-truck, rendering it stranded in active lanes, while the larger truck was able to pull off onto the side of the road.
Following the collision, the supposed Toyota was then struck at high speed by a Toyota Celica driven by a 29 year old woman who has yet to be identified. This secondary collision sparked a fire in the downed vehicle, which engulfed it completely, making it impossible for police and fire crews to get to the two occupants inside the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver in the Celica suffered injuries as well, and was transported to a nearby hospital. Her condition is not known at this time. The semi-truck driver was unhurt.
Officers on the scene reported that the fire destroyed the vehicle so completely that they were not able to make out the kind of vehicle it had once been, or the gender of the two victims inside.
The crash forced the closure of all westbound lanes of the highway as firefighters worked to remove the burned vehicle remains from the scene, and as police investigators looked into the cause of the accident, the initial big rig collision. Lanes remained closed throughout the morning commute hours, creating a traffic backup that spanned for several miles. The freeway was finally cleared away just before 9 a.m., more than five hours after the crash took place.
In the early morning hours, drivers are often lulled into a false sense of confidence to speed and drive with less attention to the road, as there are fewer vehicles with them as compared to the middle of the day. However, this time of day can still be dangerous, and full attention should be given to the task of driving at all times, regardless of how many other vehicles are on the road with you.
If you or someone you know has been hurt in such an early morning crash, you should seek help. Depending on the circumstances that led to your accident, you may be entitled to compensation, which an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer can help you recover in full.
At AA Accident Attorneys, we will work hard to get you back onto your feet quickly. As always, we will charge you nothing for our services until your case is won. Call us today for a free evaluation and to learn what we can do for you!
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