California Highway Patrol officers are investigating a fatal crash that killed at least four people Thursday night on Interstate 5, near Calgrove Boulevard.
“(The collision) occurred at 7:28 p.m. on the northbound 5 at Calgrove Boulevard,” said Officer Patrick Kimball of the CHP Traffic Management Center. “It was reported as an SUV versus semi.”
The big rig was completely pulled over onto the right shoulder of the freeway when the vehicle, believed to be a Dodge Caravan with at least four occupants inside, collided with it, according to CHP Officer Josh Greengard, who was still on scene during the investigation around 11:50 p.m. Thursday. Both vehicles burst into flames.
Officers initially reported two occupants in the vehicle. Once the fire was cleared, two additional bodies were found by officials with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, Greengard said. Medical examiners also were still on scene investigating as of midnight.
L.A. County Fire officials received the report of a minivan that crashed into the back of a parked big rig at approximately 7:30 p.m., according to Supervisor Michael Pittman of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The two vehicles caught flames that spread to about an eighth of an acre of nearby brush, which was quickly extinguished, he said.
“A SigAlert was issued at 7:58 p.m. for all lanes except the No. 1 lane for an unknown duration,” Kimball said at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Fire officials were on scene for several hours to make sure the fire was completely out.
The identities of the SUV’s occupants were not being released pending the next-of-kin notification.
The lane closure is expected to last until at least 3-4 a.m., Greengard said, around midnight.
