Eastbound 10 Freeway closed by collision involving possible wrong-way driver [UPDATED]

Full story: I-10 reopened after two killed in wrong-way crash

The eastbound 10 Freeway is shut down this morning, backing up traffic for miles, after two men were killed in a collision that may have involved a wrong-way driver, authorities said.

At least two vehicles in the eastbound lanes were involved in the collision, which occurred about 5 a.m. just west of National Boulevard and left one car engulfed in flames, said Officer Francisco Villalobos of the California Highway Patrol.

Villalobos said the CHP is still investigating the cause of the accident and are following up on earlier reports of a Honda Civic traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.

“There were reports of a wrong-way driver earlier,” he said. “We still do not have how many vehicles were involved or the total number of injuries. Officers are sorting through the information they’re getting at the scene. At a lot of collision scenes, people stop to assist. We’re waiting to get information as to how many were actually involved.”

See KTLA video after the jump.

All eastbound lanes and two westbound lanes of the 10 (a.k.a. the Santa Monica Freeway) have been closed off at the 405 Freeway. Drivers can travel east starting at Overland Avenue. Transition roads from the 405 to the eastbound 10 are also closed.

Updated at 8:14 a.m.: The eastbound lanes of the 10 Freeway currently closed off at the 405 Freeway may be opened about 1 p.m., according to a California Highway Patrol official. Two lanes on the westbound 10 are still closed, and traffic is backed up from the 405 Freeway all the way east to the 110. Drivers are encouraged to stay off the highway and use side streets far away from the 10.

CHP Officer Francisco Villalobos confirmed that the two men in their 30s killed in the accident on the eastbound 10 were driving vehicles that crashed head-on. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

“It appears that both vehicles had solo occupants in them,” Villalobos said. “Only those two vehicles were involved.”

Villalobos said there were no other injuries reported and that earlier accounts of a third person in critical condition looks to be unfounded.

-- Corina Knoll

Photo: A California Highway Patrol officer at the scene of the collision that killed two and closed a portion of the eastbound 10 Freeway. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Click here for more photos of the accident scene.

Twitter feed: Drivers share their experiences

Comments

[dip]

hey la drivers, pls use your turn signals if u want to change lanes, and stay to the right if you are going slow. left lane is for passing only k thnx bye

[CS]

So sad. Such a mystery as to why that person went the wrong way on the freeway. Usually its a drunk driver but who knows.

Also someone really needs to proofread the update at 8:14 first paragraph. Its filled with bunch of errors that made me read that paragraph a couple of times. You guys should have caught it. GET IT TOGETHER.

THIS IS HOW ITS SUPPOSE TO BE PROOF.
"The eastbound lanes of the 10 Freeway, currently closed off at the 405 Freeway, may be opened about 1 p.m., according to a California Highway Patrol official. Two lanes on the westbound 10 are still closed and traffic is backed up all the way to the 110. Drivers are encouraged to stay off the highway and use side streets far away from the 10."

[RIc]

This guy was on the wrong side of the freeway in the FAST LANE! No accident here. No, he didn't get confused, witnesses say he was drivng past them in the fast lane. Drugs/Drinking maybe?? He ended up killing a Culver CIty Police officer too.

[Staycie]

My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. I hope the wonderful prospect of John 5:28 & 29 bring them comfort in the difficult days ahead.

[Shawn]

If you listen to the daily traffic report, there's an overturned vehicle, a jack-knifed big rig, a car spun out, every single day. Not once a week, not twice a week - it's every day. How is there an overturned car every day? That's not exactly a minor collision. People in LA need to learn to drive.

[Eliud Rodriguez]

I used to live at L.A. when a was 25 years old, then I moved to Mexico, at Monterrey, Nuevo leon, people here drive more saftier than people from Los Angeles. I Hope you think obout it, today, it`s saftier live here than USA.

[Morris Crowder]

How sad this had to occur, and my condolences to the families that lost love
ones. This horrific scene occurs everyday throughout the United States.
Even in a community of 16,000 people, which I reside in. Yes, many people
take unnecessary chances everyday. Their minds are not where they
should be and thus affects their ability to function as a responsible driver.
We are all faced with the same challenges each day, but there is no reason
to be on the road when the mind is so over challenged. Our attitudes play
an important part - need to control those tempers as well. It is up to each
of us to be more accomodating on the roads. Remember, each one of us
handles lifes' crises in different ways, but it is more important to have our
mental thoughts where they should be whenever we are driving. Those
that constantly need to be on a cell phone (another mind distractor), those
that are having a meal while driviing, and of course, those that are trying
to drive in fast pace traffic plus taking care of their personal hygiene at the
same time! See LA, this behavior pattern under the wheel is everywhere.
Our driving habits are definitely in need of improvement. We do need to
focus more and sometimes, be our brothers keeper. My condolences!

[alexis]

i can't believe anyone would be using this article as a place to complain about the amount of traffic this morning.

i was late to work, but i also understand that being late to work is minor compared to what these victims and their families are dealing with right now (and for a long time ahead).

has the 21 year-old from van nuys been identified?

[KimTV5]

how do u get on the wrong side of the freeway?

[Joie]

Could it be the guy going the wrong direction was a terrorist? What the hell was he doing heading the wrong direction?

[allie]

Yeah, LA drivers really do act like spoiled children. When I passed a car that was just sitting in the middle of the street, not moving, he suddenly freaked out and rear-ended me. Then he passed me making obscene gestures and all I could do was stare at him in shock. This from a grown man.

[Brian]

I woke up late this morning and headed out at about 9:00 to El Segundo. I live about 5 minutes away from where this accident happened. The helicopters woke me up in the morning, I had no idea what happened. We got on the closest west bound entrance and I saw that the whole east bound section was closed off. Yes it was a horrific accident and I feel really bad for the families involved, and I give my blessings out to them, but closing down the freeway for that long is pretty outrageous.

I hope they find the reason the person was driving the wrong way, and if it is a dangerous/confusing entrance/exit I really hope they do something about it. The interchanges and entrances/exits are amazing dangerous, especially the interchange from the I-10 west to the I-405 south. This interchange is very dangerous because you have fast moving traffic on both sides of you. I hope this is temporary because of the construction, but I know they can do better and make our freeways and roadways safer.

[Sarah]

I would really like to know how this guy got on the freeway the wrong way. He had to be on something. This was no accident... if he was not under the influence or intentionally driving the wrong way, he would have realized his mistake immediately.

I live about a mile from where this happened, and I never really thought of the possibility of someone coming at me the wrong way. How terrifying. I'll be thinking of this every time I get on the 10 at National.

Brian: What a selfish comment about closing down the freeway too long. Sorry that police couldn't move the wreckage and bodies fast enough for you.

[Stavros]

I feel so sorry for the poor police officer that was killed. I heard(on the news) that he left behind a wife and three young children. I think that drugs or alcohol were most likely involved. Still it's very sad.

[rip]

"how do u get on the wrong side of the freeway?"

Posted by: KimTV5

By getting on the freeway from a off-ramp.

[CONNOR]

SARGENT MASSEY IS A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR OF MINE.. AKA THE ONE THAT WAS DRIVING THE RIGHT WAY. HE WILL BE MISSED

[CONNOR]

SARGENT MASSEY IS A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR OF MINE.. AKA THE ONE THAT WAS DRIVING THE RIGHT WAY. HE WILL BE MISSED