13-Vehicle Crash Snarls Freeway Traffic for 7 1/2 Hours

A chain-reaction accident Wednesday in the Sepulveda Pass, possibly triggered by a suicide attempt, created havoc on the San Diego Freeway and a torturous drive home for thousands. Seven people were injured, one seriously, authorities said.

Ten cars, two trucks and a motorcycle clashed about 2:20 p.m. on the northbound San Diego Freeway south of Valley Vista Boulevard, said Officer Joe Rojas of the California Highway Patrol.

Rush-hour drivers heading north toward the Valley were caught up in the congestion as traffic was funneled through two of the five lanes until 10 p.m. Meanwhile, southbound traffic also moved sluggishly and surface streets were choked with traffic.

“It’s a mess, an extreme mess,” Rojas said.

The apparent suicide attempt took place at about 2:05 p.m., when a 21-year-old man leaped off the back of a pickup truck on the northbound freeway near Burbank Boulevard, about a half-mile north of the multicar accident, said Los Angeles Police Officer Manny Sanchez.

The man, whose name was withheld, suffered massive head injuries but was not struck by any vehicles, Sanchez said. The man lives at a San Fernando home for the mentally disturbed and had recently threatened suicide, Sanchez said.

Sanchez said the man was in critical condition at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

The man’s attempted leap into traffic “probably caused the slow-up that led to the big crash,” Rojas said. The CHP was still investigating.

Five of the injured were treated for cuts and bruises. Ali Reza Karoon, 21, remained in serious condition with multiple fractures at the Northridge hospital, and Seth Fortier, 34, was in fair condition with a broken rib and collarbone at UCLA Medical Center.