Dodge City, KS : Fatal car crash on early Saturday, killing the driver, injuring his passenger June 28th 2014.

A Dodge Magnum slammed into temporary supports holding up an in-progress overpass at the 5 and 710 freeways in Commerce early Saturday, killing the driver, injuring his passenger and forcing a closure of the northbound 5 Freeway that was lasted until shortly before 8 p.m., authorities said.

All but one lane of the northbound 710 Freeway was also closed following the fatal solo car crash that took place at 2:02 a.m. on the northbound 5 Freeway, just south of the 710 Freeway, California Highway Patrol Officer Rommel Deguzman said in a written statement.

Jose Antonio Garcia, 34, of Compton died in the crash, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. David Smith said.His passenger, a 23-year-old Los Angeles man, was hospitalized with moderate injuries, Deguzman said.

The 2007 Dodge Magnum was traveling at an unknown speed approaching an ongoing construction project to expand the 710 Freeway overcrossing, according to the officer.

“For reasons currently under investigation, the driver left the roadway and proceeded through the raised gore point of the I-5 northbound to the I-710 northbound transition road. As a result, the vehicle collided with the temporary construction framing of the 710 over-crossing expansion project,” Deguzman said. “As a result of the impact, a combination of wood and metal framing material collapsed onto the vehicle, rendering it disabled.”

Paramedics pronounced the driver dead at the scene.Northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway were shut down at Atlantic Boulevard as Caltrans contractors repaired the damage, along with the transition road connecting the southbound 710 Freeway to the southbound 5 Freeway, according to the CHP. All lanes of the northbound 710 Freeway were reopened about 4 p.m.

The closure of the 5 Freeway was expected to remain in effect until at least 9 p.m.Countless cars backed up for miles behind the closure Saturday afternoon.
Source :
Fatal car crash forces closure of 5 Freeway in Commerce