Sig Alert issued on southbound 5 Freeway in Burbank [Updated]

California Highway Patrol officials issued an early Sig Alert for the southbound Golden State Freeway on Friday morning as they investigate a fatal accident involving a big rig and a car.

All lanes of the freeway were shut down at 4:41 a.m., and traffic was being diverted just north of the Buena Vista Street offramp, Officer Patrick Kimball said.

[Updated at 7:55 a.m.: CHP officials have reopened all lanes of the freeway.]

The Sig Alert is expected to last about two hours, Kimball said. Morning commuters are urged to take alternative routes such as the eastbound 210 Freeway or the south 170 Freeway.

The fatal accident was reported at about 4:14 a.m., Kimball said. The person inside the car that collided with the big rig was killed. There were no further details about the crash, Kimball said.

-- Ruben Vives

Photo: KTLA

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Comments

[Jack]

What lane is that truck stalled in? How on earth is that truck not on the shoulder or at least partially on the shoulder?

[observer]

Eeeeeewwwwwwwww!!!!

[ndirish]

Sad to see and hear about this, I just hope it wasnt because of texting or being on cell phone.

[Rommel De Gorostiza]

If I was not mistaken, I would have been in a different accident at the same area last night. The reason being was that on the fast lane, there was vaguely signs of upcoming MTA repair immediately ahead. The flares used came first before any sign of lane closure in about 200 feet then the fast lane suddenly merged with the middle lane. A car stopped in front of me who seemed not knowing what to do and all the cars behind me at high speed suddenly approaching had to swerve behind me avoiding a collission.

Why was it not reported why the rig was stalled on the freeway? Which lane did this incident occured? Was there MTA construction ahed? Can we get more on this story?

[Spence]

What a terrible, miserable tragedy. But that early in the morning and such a large vehicle breaks down in the #1 or #2 lane is nearly impossible to gauge approach speed. Look away for a second and you are already dead. At least, for what it's worth, I imagine it was immediate death. Can't imagine any pain or anything it would have happened so quickly.

[stopHMOs]

Is this another Toyota or Lexus driver? Buy American people!

The Times reported last month that sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles had been blamed in at least 56 deaths through the end of January.

[Liz]

The car was racing with another car when it hit the rear of the truck that was not stalled.

[Helen]

It was nice to see all the people on the fast lane going northbound literally coming to a stop in order to pull their little cell phone cameras out to take pictures....including a Burbank P.D. patrol car.

People are too careless on the road.

[John De Salvio]

Um, Helen... The police are SUPPOSED to take photos of such scenes.