ORANGE COUNTY, California — A severe collision between a pickup truck and a box truck occurred on Wednesday morning, March 13, 2024, on the Interstate 5 Freeway near Beach Boulevard in Buena Park. The incident took place in the southbound lanes just south of the Los Angeles-Orange County line and was reported during rush hour traffic at approximately 6 a.m.
The force of the crash caused the box truck to overturn and the pickup truck to catch fire, resulting in near-total destruction of the vehicle. Emergency medical teams arrived promptly on the scene to attend to at least one individual who was injured as a result of the accident. Details on the extent of injuries or the number of people involved have not been provided.
In the aftermath, towing services were employed to clear the significantly damaged vehicles from the freeway. The incident prompted a SigAlert, signaling significant traffic delays as authorities went to work managing the accident aftermath. Due to the blockage, officials temporarily shut down the Beach Boulevard off-ramp. However, traffic flow resumed in the carpool and fast lanes approximately an hour and a half later, around 7:30 a.m.
Investigations are ongoing as officials aim to establish the cause of the collision and determine who is at fault. The I-5 Freeway is a critical thoroughfare in this region, and authorities are keen to understand the sequence of events leading up to this tragic occurrence.
Source: Johnson Attorney Group