Patch.com reports that an underage, intoxicated motorist was arrested on suspicion of DUI in a crash that killed two people early Tuesday.
In a statement, the California Highway Patrol said that at approximately 1:35 a.m. CHP officers responded to a call of a crash at the southbound exit at Carmenita Road.
Officers found 19-year-old Landon Hazelwood had crashed into a stalled tractor-trailer rig at the side of the freeway. One of the passengers who had been in the vehicle with Hazelwood was ejected from the Honda Accord while a second deceased passenger was still inside the car.
Both victims were declared dead at the scene.
Authorities have not said why the big rig was stopped on the shoulder of the freeway. The truck driver was uninjured in the incident.
“I have been doing this for 15 years,” Sgt. Olivera with the California Highway Patrol told reporters. “And this was a bad one.”
Firefighters were able to extricate Hazelwood from the vehicle and transported him to an area hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. After he was released, he was placed under arrest on suspicion of DUI.
A SigAlert was issued for all southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway, causing traffic backups until the CHP concluded their investigation and debris was cleaned up from the crash site.
All southbound freeway lanes, except the number four lane, were reopened at approximately 8:00 a.m.
