A fatal accident along a Los Angeles area freeway claimed the life of one victim and left other people injured. The accident, which ultimately developed in to a four-car pileup that closed the freeway for hours, involved two law enforcement officers transporting inmates, although both prisoners were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
According to authorities, a vehicle that had something wrong with a tire had stopped in the HOV lane, which is typically used by carpoolers. Because it was in the middle of the night, the people in the stalled car tried to use a flashlight to warn other motorists that they were stalled in a traffic lane.
Nevertheless, a second vehicle slammed in to stalled car. After the initial wreck, two law enforcement vehicles also hit the pileup. One of the vehicles involved caught fire as a result of the impact.
Police issued a warning following the accident reminding motorists that if they have a problem with their cars, they should make every effort to pull over to the right shoulder of the road. Particularly at nighttime, it is hard for even the best drivers to see, much less anticipate, a vehicle not moving in a traffic lane.
Still, one has to also recognize that this accident happened because a driver did not stop in time to avoid rear-ending the stalled vehicle at a high rate of speed. While certainly more investigation is warranted, it is hard now to say where fault lies. In any event, though, the victims of this accident, or the family of the person who did not survive, will have the right to pursue compensation for their losses.
Source: ABC 7, “1 killed in fiery 4-vehicle crash on 5 Fwy in Arleta,” John Gregory, Sept. 15, 2017.
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