Snow strands vehicles, causing accidents on I-5 north of L.A.

The California Highway Patrol reported numerous stranded vehicles and minor accidents along Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles late Sunday as falling snow and sleet shut down the Grapevine section of the freeway indefinitely.

Near Magic Mountain, there were reports of multiple cars stuck on the roadway, said CHP Officer Krystal Carter.

State highways 14 and 58 remained open as alternative routes between the San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles. But officials said those roads were clogging up with traffic and should be avoided.

“The best bet, if you can, is to hunker down for the night” and avoid traveling through mountain areas, Carter said. “It’s pretty bad ... and it’s going to get worse as the night progresses” and temperatures drop.

The I-5 closure stretched from near Castaic Lake, at the north end of the Santa Clarita Valley, over the mountains to the bottom of the Grapevine, south of Bakersfield. Carter said the road may not reopen until Monday. 

A chief concern for the CHP was getting stranded motorists to safety, Carter said.

More snow-related problems were reported in the Cajon Pass area of San Bernardino County. CHP units were escorting vehicles along I-15 from the I-215 interchange to the Hesperia area. The snow was aggravating traffic delays for holiday travelers returning from Las Vegas.

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Photo: The red taillights of stopped cars glow on northbound Interstate 5 near Castaic after heavy snow closed the major roadway several miles north of this point. Credit: Mike Meadows / Associated Press

Comments

[andrew]

just drove from Santa Monica to Rosamond, 20 mpr.. cars sliding all over, several accidents, a lot of cars that could not get traction were parked all over the freeway, carpool lane, wherever, witnessed 7-8 rear enders and @ 5 sliders that went into the side rails, speeds were slow so no injury or even vehicle damage but once they slid sideways it was over they would need a tow to get out of where they were....Be safe LA!!!

[Robin]

I'd love to see these southern Californians drive in this stuff , great stuff LMAO

[Dan]

Why doesn't Caltrans put down salt and sand like the DOT does in every other part of the country where it snows in the winter? And... this happens almost every winter. It's not like it's exactly a surprise, is it? It would be nice if the LA Times would ask some harder questions about this instead of just gleefully taking pictures of people lined up like sardines.