Collision Snarls 405 Freeway For Miles in Both Directions

Crews extricated one person from the vehicle

By Samantha Tata

| Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012 | Updated 7:58 AM PDT

Crews extricated one person from a truck that reportedly slammed into the center divide of the 405 Freeway near Burbank Boulevard.

A fatal crash on the 405 Freeway Tuesday evening prompted a SigAlert and snarled traffic for miles Tuesday night after a crash involving a sport utility vehicle that struck a center divider and a a tower that supports an overpass.

The SUV was traveling "at high speed" when the driver crashed near Burbank Boulevard around 7:20 p.m., according to SigAlert communications. The vehicle reportedly exploded upon collision.

The southbound carpool and lanes one and two lanes were closed until early Wednesday, per the SigAlert, which granted LAPD the ability to reverse any of these closures. Immediately after the crash, northbound lanes were backed up to Mulholland Drive as nearly a dozen fire fighters worked to extricate someone from the vehicle, fire officials said.

That person was removed from the mangled truck, and was pronounced dead on the scene, officials confirmed.

[UPDATE: Wednesday, 7:57 a.m.] The victim was identified as 27-year-old Hiram Medina, of Van Nuys.

More than half a dozen fire engines responded to the scene along with CHP units.