Big Rig Collision Closes Lanes of the I-5 to Mid-Day Traffic

April 19, 2012 - According to reports a big rig collision that occurred mid-day closed lanes of the I-5 Freeway. According to the California Highway Patrol the big rig collision occurred at approximately 11:50 a.m. on the I-5 Freeway in the vicinity north of Oso Parkway.

California Highway Patrol officials said that there were at least two other vehicles beside the big rig involved in the collision. According to California Highway Patrol officers at the scene of the crash the big rig rear-ended a Honda Accord. The officers said that traffic slowed and the truck driver crashed into the back of the Honda, causing it to crash into the back of the vehicle in front of it, in a chain reaction collision.

The California Highway Patrol said a SigAlert was issued for the No. 3 and 4 lane of the I-5 Freeway, for approximately 30 minutes, causing traffic to slow. The big rig accident remains under investigation and it is unclear if there were any injuries, CHP officials said.

Drunk Driver Suspected in Taker Crash Causing Fire and Closure of the 134 Freeway

April 9, 2012 - According to reports a truck tanker involved in a crash on the 134 Freeway that resulted in fire, is believed to have been caused by a drunk driver. According to the California Highway Patrol, the tanker collision and fire occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m. on Saturday night at the interchange of the 134 Freeway and the 5 Freeway in Glendale.

California Highway Patrol officials said a suspected driver under the influence was traveling at a high rate of speed in the westbound lanes of the 134 Freeway, when it struck the double trailer tanker truck.

The impact of the crash caused both drivers to lose control, with the tanker truck hitting the guardrail and bursting into flames, underneath of the transition of the 5 and 134 Freeways, CHP said.

The Honda involved in the crash came to a stop on the right shoulder of the westbound lanes of the 134 Freeway. At the time of the crash the tanker was carrying 8,600 gallons of gasoline, with approximately 6,000 gallons burning when the truck burst into flames, CHP said.

According to the California Highway Patrol over 100 firefighters responded to the scene of the fiery crash and it took about 90 minutes to contain the fire. Clean up crews offloaded approximately 3,000 gallons of gasoline, while both sides of the 134 Freeway were closed in the vicinity of the 5 Freeway junction. The eastbound lanes of the freeway were reopened at approximately 7:00 a.m. Sunday and all lanes were reopened by approximately 10:15 p.m.

According to the California Highway Patrol there were no injuries reported in the crash. The driver of the Honda identified as Hakop Maghakyan age 25, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and was released on $5,000 bail on Sunday afternoon.