The driver of a minivan was killed and two freeway workers were injured early Tuesday in a construction zone crash on the 10 Freeway near Peck Road in the El Monte area.
The crash was at least the fourth involving a Caltrans work crew in Los Angeles County in the past two months, CHP officers told NBC4. The workers' injuries were described as "minor to moderate."
"You've got a couple miles of cones, as well as signs, that say there is a road closure ahead," said CHP Capt. Omar Watson. "It's very clear that there's a closure ahead. Several of the lanes were coned-off.
"I'm frustrated. I'm sad for the Caltrans workers, for the people out here who risk their lives every day."
Westbound lanes were closed for the CHP investigation after the minivan crashed into a freeway work crew's flatbed truck. The driver was traveling at least freeway speed and did not appear to apply his brakes, according to crash investigators.
Two workers injured in the crash, which was reported at about 4 a.m., were on a truck picking up construction zone cones after an overnight freeway closure. One worker was driving, the other was on the back of truck collecting the cones, according to the CHP.
The minivan was in the No. 1 lane when it struck the back of the truck, according to the CHP.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
A dog in the minivan also was killed.
The crash follows another fatal construction zone collision during the weekend on the 405 Freeway in Torrance. Two freeway workers were killed in the crash near Artesia Boulevard when two vehicles collided in the construction zone.
Correction: An earlier version of this article indicated a worker was killed in the crash.
Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: iPhone/iPad App | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram | RSS | Text Alerts | Email Alerts
