Three people died when an SUV burst into flames after hitting a shoulder wall off the 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights early Feb. 25, authorities said.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the incident occurred at around 2:45 a.m. on the northbound lanes of the freeway close to the Calzona Street off-ramp.
“We just heard the big collision,” a resident who lives nearby told ABC7. “Typically, we hear tires screeching and then accidents. This time, it was just straight-on collision.”
Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the CHP, KTLA reported. The identities of the victims have not been released.
An official from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the site at 3:14 a.m.
A Sigalert closed the off-ramp until 7:47 a.m.