Deteriorating weather causing messy commute across Southern California
Southern California is dealing with more rain on Monday, making driving on Presidents Day hazardous, even though schools and many government offices are closed.
Video obtained by KTLA shows the scene of a violent crash involving a BMW and several parked cars in Van Nuys around 2 a.m.
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Precipitation had made the roads slick, and according to witnesses, the car was speeding before it collided with the parked vehicles.
Video obtained by KTLA shows the scene of a violent crash involving a BMW and several parked cars in Van Nuys. (OnSceneTV) Video obtained by KTLA shows the scene of a violent crash involving a BMW and several parked cars in Van Nuys. (OnSceneTV) Video obtained by KTLA shows the scene of a violent crash involving a BMW and several parked cars in Van Nuys. (OnSceneTV)
Footage from Drive5 showed rainfall on several Los Angeles area freeways throughout the early hours of Monday morning, including on the 5 Freeway near the interchange with the 118 Freeway, where at least one big rig was seen pulled over on the shoulder.
Further north, a Caltrans camera on the 18 Freeway in Crestline showed heavy fog, with one motorist seen braving the conditions while driving slowly with their hazard lights flashing.
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Multiple spinout crashes occurred as the morning progressed, including on the 405 Freeway near Ventura Boulevard and the 5 Freeway near the 14 Freeway interchange.
Other crashes on the 105 and 134 freeways involved people who were speeding, according to KTLA 5 traffic reporter Ginger Chan, who advised drivers to stay in the middle lanes on freeways, if they have to drive at all.
Footage from Drive5 depicted rainfall on several Los Angeles area freeways throughout the early hours of Monday morning. A Caltrans camera overlooking the fog-covered 18 Freeway in Crestline on Feb. 19, 2024. (Caltrans) A view of traffic building up at LAX on Feb. 19, 2024.
“It’s worth looking at the freeways where things were a little bit treacherous, but it’s a little bit better if you want to take [surface] streets,” Ginger said.
Multiple areas of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and Ventura County are shut down nightly due to roadway erosion, and officials are concerned that more rain could lead to more damage.
Road conditions are expected to change rapidly as the storm makes its way through the region. Meteorologists expect the storm to bring rain and heavy mountain snow to Southern California through Wednesday morning, along with potentially damaging wind gusts.
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