405 Freeway in Van Nuys begins reopening; 11 people hurt in crash
Eleven people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a big rig that shut down a portion of the 405 Freeway in Van Nuys on Wednesday morning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The crash just north of Sherman Way had at one point closed all southbound lanes. The southbound carpool and two far right lanes, as well as the northbound carpool and far left lanes, have reopened, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Leland Tang.
[Updated 1:05 p.m. PST Dec. 4, 2013: All lanes of the southbound 405 Freeway were reopened at 11:50 a.m., according to the CHP.]
One of the injured was listed in serious condition and six others were in moderate to mild condition after being transported to local hospitals, said Shawn Lenske of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Four others were treated and released at the scene, he said.
Ten vehicles were involved in the crash, which began when a white Chevy Cavalier abruptly moved into the carpool lane over the double yellow line. A catering truck, which was traveling between 60 and 65 mph, rear-ended the car and swerved into stop-and-go traffic in the neighboring lanes, Tang said. The Chevy then collided with the center divider.
The CHP is trying to determine if the catering truck then collided with multiple cars in traffic or if it was struck by a car first, Tang said.
Vehicles were being removed from the scene and remaining lanes were expected to be reopened by noon, he said.
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Twitter: @Sam_Schaefer
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