2 Injured in Crash on Reagan Freeway

Two people were injured in a four-vehicle crash that shut down four lanes of the westbound Ronald Reagan Freeway for more than three hours during the morning commute Tuesday, authorities said.

A 1985 Oldsmobile driven by Rene Navarro, 32, of Pacoima, broke down about 5:40 a.m. in the westbound carpool lane just west of De Soto Avenue, said Officer Dwight McDonald of the California Highway Patrol.

Navarro got out of his car and was standing at its left side when he and the car were hit by a Toyota utility truck driven by David Gambardelli, 34, of Van Nuys.

The impact knocked Navarro and his car into the second lane from the right, where it was hit again by a Buick driven by Lorne Dunsworth, 75, of Northridge, McDonald said.

Dunsworth’s car swerved to the right and hit Gambardelli’s truck on the freeway’s right shoulder. A Chevrolet driven by Alexandro Flores, 19, of Sylmar, hit the truck and Buick as Flores swerved to avoid the accident.

Navarro, who suffered major injuries, was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, authorities said. His condition was not available.

The passenger in the truck, Charlton Vidal, 33, of Glendale, suffered minor injuries but was not taken to the hospital, McDonald said.

The CHP is investigating the incident and no citations have been issued, McDonald said.