All northbound lanes on the 5 Freeway were closed near Lorena Street in Boyle Heights following a fatal shooting and a vehicle collision, authorities said.
The California Highway Patrol responded to a call of shots fired and a vehicle driving in the wrong direction around 4:11 p.m. Thursday, Officer Erik Larson said. It was not clear whether the shooting took place on the freeway or on surface streets before the collision, he said.
One person suffered a fatal gunshot wound and another victim was taken to the hospital in an unknown condition, he said. Authorities were searching for three possible suspects, he added.
Former Times photojournalist Bryan Chan drove by the scene of the incident on the southbound 5 Freeway around 5 p.m. where northbound traffic had ground to a halt. Stuck drivers were standing outside their cars and on the median, he said.
Late Thursday, the incident remained under investigation, and northbound traffic was diverted to the 710 Freeway.
At 8 p.m., the CHP said the closure would remain in place for another four to six hours, according to KTLA.
The California Department of Transportation was assisting with the road closure, using trucks, cones and flare patterns to help safely direct vehicles as night fell, Larson said.
Aerial video captured by KTLA showed first responders on the freeway by a white Tesla, which had damage to the front driver’s side, and a silver Cadillac with damage to the rear driver’s side bumper.
A white sheet was draped over the front passenger’s side of the Cadillac and it appeared that bullets had punctured the rear passenger’s side window.
Traffic appeared to be backed up for miles — all the way to the 605 Freeway.
