Tragedy struck Reseda on Sunday when a multi-vehicle pileup resulted in the death of one person and left several others injured. According to a statement from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the accident, which occurred at approximately 11:18 AM at 18153 W Vanowen St, involved at least four vehicles and two additional parked vehicles.
Initial reports from LAFD indicated trapped patients and a complex extrication process underway. Adding to the chaos, a sheared fire hydrant was also part of the incident, firefighters had to work at shutting down after the trapped patients were extricated. As firefighters descended onto the scene, it was quickly assessed that one victim, deceased, was beyond aid and left in place for law enforcement and medical examiner's investigations, the LAFD said in an update.
The rescue operation was intense; hydraulic rescue tools had to be used to free two of the trapped individuals from their mangled vehicles. Out of the total 11 individuals involved in the crash, six were transported to area hospitals. The conditions of the injured were not immediately clear, and four others involved in the collision declined transport, per the LAFD.
Footage from the scene showed the aftermath of the collision with scattered debris and the efforts by emergency services to control the situation. While many of the injured were rushed to hospitals, the Los Angeles Police Department took over the grim task of investigating the incident, which subsequently caused a snarl in the area's traffic while they worked. According to KTLA's coverage of the event, the name of the deceased individual was not released as of Sunday.
The LAFD and LAPD have not yet provided information regarding the cause of the accident or the condition of the hospitalized victims. The agencies are expected to release more details as their investigation progresses.
