One killed, two injured in 10 Freeway crash in El Monte

A driver of a minivan died after crashing into a Caltrans truck early Tuesday morning on the 10 (Santa Monica) Freeway in El Monite, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The 4 a.m. accident occurred on the westbound freeway near Peck Road when the minivan hit the truck, which was being used to pick up cones. Two Caltrans contract workers in the truck suffered moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital.

The CHP had said earlier that a Caltrans employee was killed in the accident. A dog in the minivan was also killed, the CHP said.

Three of four westbound lanes of freeway were closed as the investigation continued, CHP spokesman Ed Jacobs said.

-- Melissa Leu, Los Angeles Times