405 reopens after fatal wrong-way crash that caused traffic nightmare (original) (raw)

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – A deadly crash involving a wrong-way driver forced the closure of the southbound 405 Freeway through the Sherman Oaks area Tuesday morning.

The crash was reported just after 4 a.m. when a motorist was spotted traveling northbound in the southbound lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A few minutes later, a three- to four-vehicle crash was reported near Valley Vista Boulevard.

The CHP confirmed one person was killed as a result of the crash, and at least one other person was transported to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.

A SigAlert was issued for the closure of all southbound lanes shortly before 4:30 a.m. This caused extensive traffic delays across the San Fernando Valley for hours throughout the morning. The impacts extended along the southbound 101 Freeway, Ventura Boulevard, Victory Boulevard and other major arteries, adding more than an hour to normal commute times in some cases.

All lanes of the 405 reopened shortly before 10 a.m.

“GOOD NEWS! CHP OFFICERS HAVE CLEARED THE ROADWAY. THE SIGALERT HAS BEEN CANCELLED IN SHERMAN OAKS,” the CHP posted on X at 9:41 a.m.

The identity of the wrong-way driver was not immediately released, and it was unclear if intoxication was a factor.

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