An early morning commute through Studio City turned tragic on Monday when a fatal crash shut down all southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway, grinding pre-dawn traffic to a halt. The collision happened in the overnight hours, and emergency crews remained on scene for hours, pulling one person from a wrecked vehicle and later declaring him dead at the scene.
According to an alert from the Los Angeles Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched at 2:14 a.m. and carried out an extrication on one patient. The LAFD said the victim was an approximately 60-year-old man who could not be revived and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
The California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert that shut all southbound lanes of the 101 through Studio City, telling reporters the closure was expected to last into the morning commute, roughly until about 5:30 a.m., according to KTLA. The crash was reported just west of the 170 Freeway, where the 101 cuts through Studio City, leaving early drivers dealing with heavy delays and detours.
Scene and response
The LAFD alert lists the incident as #0124 and notes that about 28 firefighters responded, with tow operators and CHP units helping manage traffic and debris. Crews worked to free the victim, secure the area, and clear the wreckage so lanes could safely reopen. The department reported that no firefighters were injured during the operation.
Investigation and traffic
The CHP is leading the investigation into what caused the crash, and officials had not released the victim's name as of early Monday, according to KTLA. Drivers were urged to seek alternate routes while the freeway remained shut and to prepare for residual delays even after traffic started flowing again.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and have not provided further details. This story will be updated as additional information is released by officials.
