Van rear-ends sedan, overturns; CHP halts traffic for investigation
A serious crash Saturday night on the southbound 805 just past the 54 caused major traffic disruptions and left two people injured. The incident involved a white sedan carrying two female occupants and a white Sprinter van driven by a man. The van reportedly rear-ended the sedan at high speed, crushing the car’s rear end. The van lost control, veered up an embankment, and rolled onto its side. It remains unclear whether the sedan was stopped or simply moving slowly at the time of impact. The van driver, who was allegedly not wearing a seatbelt, was tossed around but managed to avoid serious injury and refused medical care. Meanwhile, both female occupants of the sedan required ambulance transport. Firefighters carefully removed the sedan driver using a backboard and gurney. The van driver was suspected of DUI, subjected to field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer, both of which he failed. He was arrested on DUI charges. Following the crash, CHP officers had to completely halt traffic on the freeway to establish a flare pattern. They later reopened lanes 1, 2, and 3, only to close them again for the tow trucks. Some drivers reportedly ignored CHP commands during these closures, creating a hazardous scene for everyone involved.
