Multiple big rig crashes bring 5 Freeway traffic to halt

Several crashes involving semi trucks brought traffic to a near-stop on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles. 

The series of accidents happened on Wednesday, November 6th around the Los Angeles, California area. 

According to KTLA, the first crash happened at around 5 a.m. on the southbound side of the 5 Freeway at Roxford Street in Sylmar. The accident involved a semi truck and a passenger car, and up to five other cars. One car flipped over the center divider and ended up in the northbound lanes before becoming pinned between the wall and the trailer of the semi truck. It is unclear if anyone was hurt in the accident. 

A short time later, another car caught fire in the northbound lanes, unrelated to the multi-vehicle crash. The incident added to the extent of the traffic backups. 

About two hours later, a second crash occurred near the 5 Freeway’s interchange with the 118 Freeway in San Fernando. This crash involved at least one car and one semi truck, leaving the truck with a mangled front end. The truck driver had to be extricated from the cab of his truck and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. 

An additional crash involving a semi truck hauling oranges also occurred on the nearby 210 Freeway, adding to the morning commute chaos. No further information on the incidents has been released.