LOS ANGELES, CA — A passenger was killed early Thursday when a white Kia sedan left the 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights, struck an embankment near an overpass and became wedged beneath it, according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The crash happened around 2:15 a.m. on the transition road from the northbound 5 Freeway to the eastbound 10 Freeway. Bystanders rushed to the wrecked vehicle before firefighters arrived and called 911 as they tried to help the people inside.
CHP says speed appears to have been a factor before the car left the roadway
Investigators said the initial evidence points to high speed as a likely factor. In a press release, the CHP said the vehicle appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed before it veered off the road and crashed into the embankment overcrossing.
The sedan’s landing spot made the scene especially difficult for first responders. Video from the crash site showed the heavily damaged car trapped in the embankment while Los Angeles Fire Department crews worked around it to clear the area and reach the occupants.
Authorities have not said whether any other vehicles were involved. They also did not identify the driver or the passenger by name in the information released Thursday morning.
Passenger died at the scene, while the driver was treated for injuries
Witnesses at the scene told reporters the passenger who died was the driver’s nephew. Officials later confirmed that the fatality was the passenger, correcting an earlier error that had identified the driver as the person killed.
The driver survived the crash and was hospitalized for treatment of what authorities described as minor injuries. Police said the arrest for suspected DUI came after the collision, as investigators began piecing together how the sedan left the freeway and struck the embankment.
Because the crash happened in the early morning hours, traffic on the connector was minimal, but the outcome was severe for those in the car. The scene quickly became one of recovery and investigation rather than rescue.
Transition road shut down for hours after the wreck
The California Highway Patrol closed the transition road after the crash and issued a SigAlert, warning drivers to expect major delays in the area. The closure affected the connector between two of Southern California’s busiest freeways, adding to the disruption caused by the investigation and cleanup.
Caltrans crews began breaking down the closure about 6:45 a.m., according to the CHP. That work came several hours after the wreck, once investigators had the chance to examine the scene and remove the badly damaged vehicle from the embankment.
Officials did not immediately say when the transition road fully reopened. The shutdown underscored how one crash on a freeway connector can ripple through a large network of morning traffic routes.
Bystanders and firefighters reached the scene before sunrise
People who saw the crash were among the first to respond. Before firefighters arrived, bystanders ran to the vehicle to try to help the occupants and called 911, according to witness accounts.
Once the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived, crews focused on stabilizing the scene and clearing the wreckage from the embankment. The car’s position beneath the overpass made the operation more complicated than a typical freeway collision.
Images from the area showed the sedan badly crumpled after the impact. The scene reflected both the force of the crash and the urgency of the emergency response in the dark early-morning hours.
Investigation continues into the cause of the Boyle Heights crash
The CHP’s preliminary findings point to speed and suspected impairment, but investigators have not said whether either factor alone caused the deadly wreck. The agency has not announced additional details about the timeline leading up to the crash or the condition of the roadway.
For now, the case remains centered on a single violent collision that killed one passenger, injured the driver and led to an arrest. Officials are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the freeway departure and the impact with the embankment.
The crash added another fatal episode to the region’s long history of serious freeway incidents, particularly on the dense web of connectors that move traffic between major Los Angeles routes. Authorities have not released further updates on any charges beyond the DUI arrest.
Passenger died at the scene, while the driver was treated for injuries
Witnesses at the scene told reporters the passenger who died was the driver’s nephew. Officials later confirmed that the fatality was the passenger, correcting an earlier error that had identified the driver as the person killed.
The driver survived the crash and was hospitalized for treatment of what authorities described as minor injuries. Police said the arrest for suspected DUI came after the collision, as investigators began piecing together how the sedan left the freeway and struck the embankment.
Because the crash happened in the early morning hours, traffic on the connector was minimal, but the outcome was severe for those in the car. The scene quickly became one of recovery and investigation rather than rescue.
Transition road shut down for hours after the wreck
The California Highway Patrol closed the transition road after the crash and issued a SigAlert, warning drivers to expect major delays in the area. The closure affected the connector between two of Southern California’s busiest freeways, adding to the disruption caused by the investigation and cleanup.
Caltrans crews began breaking down the closure about 6:45 a.m., according to the CHP. That work came several hours after the wreck, once investigators had the chance to examine the scene and remove the badly damaged vehicle from the embankment.
Officials did not immediately say when the transition road fully reopened. The shutdown underscored how one crash on a freeway connector can ripple through a large network of morning traffic routes.
Bystanders and firefighters reached the scene before sunrise
People who saw the crash were among the first to respond. Before firefighters arrived, bystanders ran to the vehicle to try to help the occupants and called 911, according to witness accounts.
Once the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived, crews focused on stabilizing the scene and clearing the wreckage from the embankment. The car’s position beneath the overpass made the operation more complicated than a typical freeway collision.
Images from the area showed the sedan badly crumpled after the impact. The scene reflected both the force of the crash and the urgency of the emergency response in the dark early-morning hours.
Investigation continues into the cause of the Boyle Heights crash
The CHP’s preliminary findings point to speed and suspected impairment, but investigators have not said whether either factor alone caused the deadly wreck. The agency has not announced additional details about the timeline leading up to the crash or the condition of the roadway.
For now, the case remains centered on a single violent collision that killed one passenger, injured the driver and led to an arrest. Officials are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the freeway departure and the impact with the embankment.
The crash added another fatal episode to the region’s long history of serious freeway incidents, particularly on the dense web of connectors that move traffic between major Los Angeles routes. Authorities have not released further updates on any charges beyond the DUI arrest.
Investigation continues into the cause of the Boyle Heights crash
The CHP’s preliminary findings point to speed and suspected impairment, but investigators have not said whether either factor alone caused the deadly wreck. The agency has not announced additional details about the timeline leading up to the crash or the condition of the roadway.
For now, the case remains centered on a single violent collision that killed one passenger, injured the driver and led to an arrest. Officials are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the freeway departure and the impact with the embankment.
The crash added another fatal episode to the region’s long history of serious freeway incidents, particularly on the dense web of connectors that move traffic between major Los Angeles routes. Authorities have not released further updates on any charges beyond the DUI arrest.
Bystanders and firefighters reached the scene before sunrise
People who saw the crash were among the first to respond. Before firefighters arrived, bystanders ran to the vehicle to try to help the occupants and called 911, according to witness accounts.
Once the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived, crews focused on stabilizing the scene and clearing the wreckage from the embankment. The car’s position beneath the overpass made the operation more complicated than a typical freeway collision.
Images from the area showed the sedan badly crumpled after the impact. The scene reflected both the force of the crash and the urgency of the emergency response in the dark early-morning hours.
Transition road shut down for hours after the wreck
The California Highway Patrol closed the transition road after the crash and issued a SigAlert, warning drivers to expect major delays in the area. The closure affected the connector between two of Southern California’s busiest freeways, adding to the disruption caused by the investigation and cleanup.
Caltrans crews began breaking down the closure about 6:45 a.m., according to the CHP. That work came several hours after the wreck, once investigators had the chance to examine the scene and remove the badly damaged vehicle from the embankment.
Officials did not immediately say when the transition road fully reopened. The shutdown underscored how one crash on a freeway connector can ripple through a large network of morning traffic routes.
Passenger died at the scene, while the driver was treated for injuries
Witnesses at the scene told reporters the passenger who died was the driver’s nephew. Officials later confirmed that the fatality was the passenger, correcting an earlier error that had identified the driver as the person killed.
The driver survived the crash and was hospitalized for treatment of what authorities described as minor injuries. Police said the arrest for suspected DUI came after the collision, as investigators began piecing together how the sedan left the freeway and struck the embankment.
Because the crash happened in the early morning hours, traffic on the connector was minimal, but the outcome was severe for those in the car. The scene quickly became one of recovery and investigation rather than rescue.
Investigation continues into the cause of the Boyle Heights crash
The CHP’s preliminary findings point to speed and suspected impairment, but investigators have not said whether either factor alone caused the deadly wreck. The agency has not announced additional details about the timeline leading up to the crash or the condition of the roadway.
For now, the case remains centered on a single violent collision that killed one passenger, injured the driver and led to an arrest. Officials are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the freeway departure and the impact with the embankment.
The crash added another fatal episode to the region’s long history of serious freeway incidents, particularly on the dense web of connectors that move traffic between major Los Angeles routes. Authorities have not released further updates on any charges beyond the DUI arrest.
Passenger died at the scene, while the driver was treated for injuries
Witnesses at the scene told reporters the passenger who died was the driver’s nephew. Officials later confirmed that the fatality was the passenger, correcting an earlier error that had identified the driver as the person killed.
The driver survived the crash and was hospitalized for treatment of what authorities described as minor injuries. Police said the arrest for suspected DUI came after the collision, as investigators began piecing together how the sedan left the freeway and struck the embankment.
Because the crash happened in the early morning hours, traffic on the connector was minimal, but the outcome was severe for those in the car. The scene quickly became one of recovery and investigation rather than rescue.
The crash and the immediate response in Boyle Heights
A white Kia sedan left the northbound 5 Freeway-to-eastbound 10 Freeway transition road around 2:15 a.m. Thursday and landed in an embankment beneath an overpass in Boyle Heights. The impact killed the passenger and left the driver hospitalized with minor injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.
CHP investigators said the vehicle appeared to be speeding before it drifted off the roadway. Officers later arrested the driver on suspicion of driving under the influence, while firefighters and bystanders worked to reach the wrecked car and assist the occupants.
