Castaic, CA : 8 people injured in Castaic I-5 crash that shuts down freeway on Monday, December 1, 2014

Eight people were hurt — two seriously, including a 4-year-old boy — and all were taken to hospitals Monday following a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in Castaic. The collision occurred when a minivan heading south around 5 a.m. Monday “slowed to a stop in the lane,” California Highway Patrol Officer John Lutz said in a news release. The van was in the second lane from the left and the driver was unable to get it out of traffic, he said. Seven people, all from Inglewood, were inside the 2002 gray Honda Odyssey, the CHP report said. The eighth injured, Juan Rauda, 62, of Dinuba, was driving a 2005 Ford E350 southbound in the same lane about 65 mph, the CHP release said. “Rauda failed to realize the vehicle was stopped in the lane ahead and, due to his unsafe speed, was unable to stop his vehicle in time and struck the rear end of the Honda Odyssey van with the front end of his vehicle,” Lutz said. The collision occurred near Hasley Canyon Road. At least some southbound freeway lanes were shut down for about two hours afterward, and the entire freeway was closed for about 10 minutes to fly in a rescue helicopter. Most seriously injured in the crash was 4-year-old Gerardo Pescador, who was airlifted to Riverside Memorial Hospital, Lutz said in the release. Also suffering traumatic injuries was 23-year-old Lissette Higareda, who was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. CHP investigators said she was not wearing “safety equipment” in the vehicle. The rest of the Honda’s occupants and Rauda received minor injuries, according to a spokeswoman for the Fire Department, which sent paramedics to the scene. They were Cindy Higareda, 21, who was driving the Honda, 1-year-old David Alexander, 18-year-old Monica Higareda, 54-year-old Jose Higareda and a 9-month-old boy identified only as “Carlos.” All lanes were re-opened shortly after 7 a.m. source : UPDATE: 8 injured in Castaic I-5 crash that shuts down freeway