A wrong-way driver caused a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 134 in Pasadena early Sunday morning, killing two people and injuring several more, local authorities said.
California Highway Patrol received a report of a traffic accident on the westbound freeway at North San Rafael Avenue at 8:12 a.m. and arrived around 8:30 a.m., police said. Pasadena city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said local police responded within minutes.
CHP is still investigating the cause, but Derderian said preliminary reports indicate a wrong-way driver caused the accident. CHP logs show the vehicle was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes.
Derderian confirmed that one person died at the scene and the other died after being transported by ambulance. Three more people suffered “serious injuries” and another person reported “minor complaints.”
Several fire trucks, engines and an ambulance arrived quickly, she said.
“First responders respond to accidents every day, and this accident is one of the scariest they have ever witnessed due to the impact and injuries involved,” Derderian said. said.
Derderian said emergency helicopters were flying “very low” over the area “as a precautionary measure” immediately after the accident, searching for additional victims who may have been ejected from the vehicle. So far, no further bodies have been reported.
CHP said traffic was being detoured in all westbound lanes starting at Fair Oaks Avenue.
The highway was expected to open within hours of the accident, but authorities expected the impact on side roads, where traffic was diverted, could be longer-lasting.
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