Tragedy struck early Sunday on the 5 Freeway in Irvine as two motorcyclists lost their lives following a crash that occurred just after midnight. According to NBC Los Angeles, the incident happened on the northbound side of the freeway, south of Culver Drive, and involved two motorcycles. While the authorities are still piecing together what caused the crash, early reports indicated that there had been calls of reckless riding in the area before the accident.
The Eyewitness News has released video footage from the scene showing a person detained on suspicion of DUI, as well as damage to a California Highway Patrol vehicle from a subsequent collision. While details about this separate incident remain limited, there were no immediate reports of injuries related to the rear end of the patrol vehicle at the crash site.
Compounding the chaos of the night's events, officers responding to the initial crash were met with approximately 50 motorcyclists on the freeway. As reported by CBS Los Angeles, it is unclear whether the riders were associated with the group that was reportedly riding recklessly before the fatal incident. The presence of these riders, however, underscored the severity and confusion that can accompany accidents involving multiple vehicles and individuals.
A SigAlert was issued following the crash, leading to the closure of all northbound lanes, which were later reopened around 4 a.m., CBS Los Angeles detailed. The identities of the individuals who died have not been released by law enforcement, and the investigation into the circumstances leading up to the fatal incident is ongoing. The unintended interaction with the emergency responders by an unrelated motorist, who presumably failed a DUI test, points towards a night hemorrhaged by loss and poor decisions.
