At least one person was hospitalized after a stalled Jeep sitting in the middle of the Foothill (210) Freeway touched off a chain-reaction crash involving four vehicles just east of Azusa Avenue early Thursday. The California Highway Patrol reported the collision around 12:11 a.m., shutting down the HOV lane along with lanes 1, 2 and 3 as crews worked to clear the wreckage.
According to MyNewsLA.com, a witness described seeing the Jeep stalled in the middle of the roadway moments before the pileup unfolded. At least one person was transported to the hospital, per CHP, though authorities have not confirmed what caused the collision. Video from the scene showed the stalled Jeep alongside multiple destroyed vehicles scattered across the lanes.
Lanes Reopen After Hours-Long SigAlert
CHP issued a SigAlert as the lanes remained closed, a designation the agency reserves for any unplanned incident that shuts down one or more traffic lanes for 30 minutes or longer, according to LAist. The alert was later canceled and the HOV, 1, 2 and 3 lanes reopened, the same report notes. Crews spent the overnight hours towing the destroyed vehicles from the roadway and cleaning up debris before traffic could flow normally again.
The crash adds to a rough stretch for the 210 corridor through the San Gabriel Valley. Just six days earlier, a 22-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on the westbound 210 in nearby Claremont that triggered its own extended lane closure, as Claremont crash killed motorcyclist detailed.
Why Stalled Cars Pose Such a Dangerous Risk
A stalled vehicle in a travel lane can create a hazard for drivers approaching the scene.
A disabled vehicle can leave approaching drivers with less room to react, especially if traffic backs up behind it.
Safety When a Vehicle Becomes Disabled
For a driver whose vehicle becomes disabled on a freeway, getting out of active traffic safely can be a challenge.
Authorities have not said whether any citations have been issued in connection with the Azusa crash, and the medical condition of the hospitalized person has not been released.
