1 Killed, 4 Hurt as Gasoline Truck Explodes in Crash

A gasoline truck overturned on the westbound Ventura Freeway and exploded Saturday afternoon, engulfing the rig in flames, killing a motorist and injuring four others. All lanes of the freeway near Lindero Canyon Road were closed for several hours, backing up traffic in Los Angeles and Ventura County for miles.

The 12:55 p.m. crash occurred when a Chevrolet Blazer entering the freeway at Lindero Canyon Road lost control on the wet pavement and fishtailed into a Chevron tanker.

The gasoline truck then swerved to the left, rolled onto its side and slammed into the center divider, said Dwight McDonald, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol. The truck exploded into a fireball, spilling gasoline onto the freeway.

The driver of the white 1997 Blazer, identified as Zaki Gordon, 22, of Thousand Oaks, was killed. His two brothers, who were passengers, were injured.

Gordon died at the scene after a rescue attempt by his brothers and an unidentified motorist failed. Gordon’s brothers, Yani, 11, and Adam, 14, were taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, according to CHP Officer Frank Sansone. The boys were treated for minor injuries and released Saturday night, a nursing supervisor said.

The unidentified good Samaritan, a 19-year-old Van Nuys resident, was flown with burn injuries to UCLA Medical Center, where he was treated and released, Sansone said.

Chevron officials identified the driver of the truck as John Legans of Lancaster. Legans, who was able to telephone his supervisor from the scene to report the accident, was taken to Kaiser Permanente-Woodland Hills. He was released Saturday night after treatment for cuts and bruises, spokeswoman Lisa Kort said.

CHP officials said all westbound lanes of the Ventura Freeway between Lindero Canyon and Westlake Boulevard were to be closed for 24 hours to clean up 8,800 gallons of gasoline and to repair the badly burned lanes.

The accident shut down the freeway for several hours, contributing to a massive traffic backup that stretched more than five miles in each direction, CHP officers said.

Two eastbound lanes near the accident reopened about 5 p.m., the CHP said.