A single-vehicle crash on the southbound 170 Freeway in North Hollywood on Monday afternoon left 10 people injured and forced multiple lane closures, backing up traffic through the area during peak daytime travel.
The incident
unfolded shortly after 2 p.m. along the southbound lanes near Whitsett Avenue, where emergency crews were dispatched to what was initially reported as a traffic collision involving multiple occupants.
According to an
alert issued by the Los Angeles Fire Department, the crash involved “ten total patients (2 adults and 8 pediatrics), all in fair condition,” with all individuals slated for transport to nearby hospitals for evaluation. The alert also confirmed the incident was logged by the California Highway Patrol and required a large, multi-unit response from fire and medical personnel.
Fire crews arriving at the scene encountered a van that had spun out on the freeway under stormy weather conditions. Authorities did not immediately indicate whether other vehicles were involved, but classified the crash as a single-vehicle incident. The LAFD alert detailed a coordinated response involving multiple engines, rescue ambulances, and command units from the department’s Valley Bureau.
Additional reporting from
ABC7 indicated that the crash occurred as heavy rain moved through the region, potentially contributing to slick roadway conditions. All 10 occupants, eight children and two adults, were treated at the scene before being transported for further medical checks.
Aerial footage captured by the outlet showed emergency responders assisting several children along the freeway shoulder while ambulances lined the scene. Traffic quickly built behind the crash site as first responders worked to stabilize patients and clear the roadway. At least three left lanes were shut down, significantly slowing southbound traffic during the response.
Monday’s crash follows another major freeway incident in the San Fernando Valley in December that resulted in a fatality and multiple critical injuries. In that case, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported a “multi-vehicle collision with entrapment” on the westbound 210 Freeway near Sunland Boulevard, involving nine patients, “with three in critical condition,” according to an initial
alert.
A subsequent
update from the department confirmed the severity of the crash, stating: “One patient determined dead on scene, three patients (40yo male, 30yo female, 61yo male) transported in at least serious condition,” while others sustained less severe injuries or declined transport.
“Two patients transported with non-life threatening injuries and one patient declined LAFD transport,” the alert read.
Authorities have not released further details about the cause of Monday’s 170 Freeway crash.
