Crime & Safety

Nine People Injured in Capo Beach Crash on I-5

The accident has choked traffic in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Originally posted at 2:10 p.m. Oct. 24, 2013. Updated with photos and further details.

Nine people, including a father and his two children, were injured today when a big-rig crashed through a freeway median and collided with multiple vehicles in Capistrano Beach.

The truck was headed north on the I-5 Freeway when the driver, a 47-year-old man from Whittier, lost control and the truck crashed through the median near Camino de Estrella and into the southbound lanes, where it came to a rest about 12:15 p.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Denise Quesada said.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

All but one southbound lane was closed to accommodate emergency crews. Then all lanes were closed about 1:15 p.m. to land a helicopter, which ferried one patient, a 66-year-old man from Santa Monica, to UCI Medical Center in Orange, said Lynnette Round of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Nine patients -- including a 1-year-old, 3-year-old and their father from Orange -- sustained minor to moderate injuries, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi. The father and his two children were taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Concialdi said.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Three patients were taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, one to Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in San Clemente, and one to UCI,  according to Concialdi.

The crash scene spread out over 300 feet, Concialdi said. The collision involved at least six vehicles, Quesada said.

Quesada urged motorists to seek alternate routes until the roadway could be cleared.

Traffic was backed up for miles in both directions.

The CHP is asking for any witnesses to contact Office Aaron Rothberg at (949) 487-4000.

-- City News Service. Patch Editor Penny Arévalo contributed to this report.


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