Midday traffic through Newhall Pass turned deadly Wednesday when a small sedan slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer on the northbound 14 Freeway in Santa Clarita, wedging beneath the big rig and killing the driver at the scene.
The crash was reported around midday near the Newhall Avenue exit and quickly snarled traffic, with right-side lanes shut down and congestion spilling back onto the I-5. The California Highway Patrol's Newhall-area office confirmed the fatality and said investigators were on scene, according to KTLA. Sky5 reporter Rich Prickett, flying over the wreck, said drivers should expect the situation to drag on into the afternoon as tow crews and cleanup teams worked to free the sedan and clear debris.
Traffic and delays
Air and ground video showed at least two right lanes on the northbound 14 blocked, and a white cloth covering the vehicle. The CHP closed two lanes while crews handled the wreck, according to ABC7. Drivers were urged to give themselves extra time or bail out to alternate routes as backups rippled through Santa Clarita and onto the I-5.
Why Newhall Pass matters
The Newhall Pass interchange, where SR-14 meets I-5, is a notorious chokepoint for truck traffic and a repeat scene of big-rig crashes that can trigger hours-long closures and heavy cleanup. Local coverage has shown how a single truck-involved wreck in this stretch can jam multiple freeways. NBC Los Angeles recently reported on another big-rig crash that shut lanes in the same corridor earlier this month.
CHP detectives are investigating what led up to Wednesday's collision. Officials have not released the driver's identity or said whether impairment or any charges are being considered, according to KTLA. Commuters heading north through Santa Clarita are being urged to check traffic updates and pad their travel time until the scene is fully cleared.
