Deadly 5 Freeway Crash in Boyle Heights: Semi-Truck Inferno Kills 1, Injures 15

Chaos Before Dawn

BOYLE HEIGHTS—The first orange glow came from under the overpass, a sunrise out of order. By 4:17 a.m. Tuesday, the southbound 5 had turned into a scrapyard of twisted aluminum and melted taillights. A double-trailer produce semi, hauling 40,000 pounds of tomatoes, clipped a disabled sedan, rode the center divider, and jackknifed across all lanes. The cab burst into flames; the sedan folded like a paper cup.

“It sounded like a freight train derailing”

Maria Alvarez, heading to her bakery shift, was three cars back. “The trailer whipped around and everything exploded,” she said, voice still trembling. “I grabbed my phone but my hands were shaking so hard I couldn’t dial.”

“I’ve covered this corridor for fifteen years—never seen fire spread that fast.”
—CHP Public Information Officer Luis Romero

One Dead, Dozens Hurt

Los Angeles Fire Department responders arrived within six minutes; the heat was so intense they had to fight the blaze from beneath the overpass, using ladder pipes. One occupant of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene. Fifteen others, including the semi-driver, were transported to LAC+USC Medical Center; four remain in critical condition with burn and crush injuries.

Traffic Nightmare Ripples Across L.A.

All southbound lanes were shuttered until 2 p.m.; detours funneled traffic onto the 710 and 60, backing up commuters as far as Glendale. Caltrans engineers spent the afternoon inspecting the overpass for structural damage; preliminary reports show scorched concrete but no rebar compromise.

What We Know So Far

• Crash occurred at 4:17 a.m. just north of the César E. Chávez off-ramp
• Semi-driver, 38, of Fresno, had a clean record; toxicology pending
• Disabled sedan had reported engine trouble minutes earlier on 911
• Investigators are reviewing dash-cam footage from three witnesses

A History of Trouble

Federal data show 27 injury collisions at this mile marker since 2019, eight involving big rigs. State Senator María Elena Durazo called Tuesday for installation of truck-only lanes and variable speed-limit signs. “We keep patching the problem instead of preventing it,” she said.

Commuters Brace for More Delays

Caltrans warns overnight resurfacing will close two lanes tonight through Friday. Metro will honor 5 Freeway tolls on the El Monte Busway; drivers can track real-time closures via QuickMap.

How to Help

LAC+USC blood bank is accepting type O donations for burn patients; mention code “5Freeway.” A GoFundMe verified by the victim’s family has raised $42,000 in six hours.