Los Angeles/ Crime & Emergencies
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Published on October 11, 2024
Road Rage on 5 Freeway Escalates to Deadly Shooting and Multi-Car Collision in Boyle HeightsSource: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tragedy struck the 5 Freeway near Boyle Heights when road rage escalated into a fatal shooting, leading to a multi-car accident and causing hours of gridlock. Two men in a dark-colored Dodge Durango reportedly fired at the occupants of a gold Cadillac, killing the passenger and injuring the driver. KTLA reported that after the shooting, the Cadillac made a sudden U-turn, driving against northbound traffic and eventually colliding with several vehicles before halting.

According to aerial footage from Sky5, the horrific aftermath included the Cadillac with a white sheet covering the passenger side and other damaged vehicles, including a white Tesla that might provide critical video evidence. "They’re working on trying to recover that video and that is instrumental," explained CHP Lt. Bob Purvis, as cited by KTLA.

As an investigation unfolded, NBC Los Angeles noted that a Sigalert had been issued with traffic backed up to the 710 Freeway. The freeway was completely shuttered until the early hours of Friday. The California Highway Patrol continued seeking the two suspects, described in a FOX 11 report as two Hispanic male adults.

Jessica Sotelo, a local resident, told FOX 11, "Hopefully they catch them soon because we don’t know what their intentions are, to hurt more people or not." Sotelo articulated the fear that pervaded the community following the endangerment of countless lives over, presumed to be, a fickle spark of road rage. CBS Los Angeles provided details on the aftermath, stating that the driver of the Cadillac was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery.