Early on Monday morning, tragedy struck on the southbound 405 Freeway near the Getty Center in Brentwood, where a multi-vehicle crash resulted in two fatalities and closures that impacted countless commuters. Among those killed was an LAPD sergeant, who initially responded to an unrelated accident at approximately 2:30 a.m. and was standing outside his patrol vehicle when another driver collided with the emergency scene.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that three individuals were involved in the incident. One, a 34-year-old male, was pronounced deceased on site, according to an LAFD alert. Two other males, ages 45 and 35, were quickly transported to the hospital, with the former in grave condition. In a detrimental turn of events, the LAPD officer succumbed to his injuries after being taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
As investigators worked to piece together the circumstances leading up to the crash, the California Highway Patrol issued a Sig Alert, indicating a complete shutdown of the southbound 405 lanes at Moraga Drive. While the northbound side remained open, drivers were advised by CHP to seek alternative routes, as reported by CBS Los Angeles.
The names of the victims have not yet been released as the investigation continues. SkyFOX aerial footage captured the extent of the traffic backup, with miles of stalled vehicles. As commuters grappled to reroute their journeys, information from the Los Angeles Police Department, relayed by FOX LA, provided a somber backdrop to a morning commute disrupted by unforeseen loss and irrevocable change.
