Accidents on 5 Freeway leave 2 motorcyclists dead, 2 injured
Two separate traffic accidents on the 5 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley left two people dead and two others injured on Sunday, amid a popular children’s charity event that attracts hundreds of motorcycle riders, according to event organizers and the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities and organizers were trying to determine whether the two people killed were taking part in a motorcycle ride from Glendale to Castaic Lake to help raise money for autism research.
“Whether they were or not, this was a tragic accident,” spokeswoman Susan Morrison said. “In the 28 years of this event, we’ve never had a fatality before.”
The first crash occurred around 10:24 a.m. when two motorcyclists collided on the northbound 5 Freeway near the 170 Freeway, just south of Branford Street, CHP Officer Christian Cracraft said. The two bikers were taken to a local hospital.
The crash blocked three of five lanes, leading authorities to issue a SigAlert.
The two bikers were taking part in the Love Ride, according to CHP and Morrison.
By Sunday night, the two injured bikers appeared to be doing well, Morrison said.
The second crash happened in the same location as the first, about an hour later, Cracraft said. The lingering traffic from the first crash may have played a role, he said. “I don’t know if they were trying to catch up with the pack,” Cracraft said. “They were splitting traffic on the 3 and 4 lanes and got tangled by a big rig and got run over.”
The names of the victims, a man and his female passenger, were not available Sunday night.
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