A wrong-way driver collided with another vehicle Monday morning, leaving two people dead and prompting the closure of the eastbound 210 Freeway through the unincorporated La Crescenta-Montrose area.
The wrong-way driver was initially reported at 2:41 a.m. traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway, the California Highway Patrol’s traffic incident log stated.
Just three minutes later, the vehicle was involved in a fatal head-on collision with another vehicle, according to the CHP.
One of the vehicles caught fire following the crash, which prompted officials to close all eastbound lanes near Ocean View Boulevard and issue a SigAlert.
Officials later confirmed the drivers of each vehicle were killed in the crash.
The driver of the wrong-way vehicle, described as a white Mazda, was identified only as a woman in her mid 20s.
The driver killed in the other vehicle was a 27-year-old man, who family members found at the scene after tracking his cellphone.
A passenger in the wrong-way vehicle suffered moderate injuries in the crash, Sgt. Manuel Rodriguez said.
Video from the scene showed the freeway was still shut down just before 5:30 a.m. as crews continued to work to remove debris from lanes.
Traffic was moving again on the freeway by 8 a.m.
Rodriguez explained that wrong-way drivers often travel in the HOV or far left lane because visually they think they’re in the slow lane on the right side.
“Try to stay in the middle lanes so you have out one way or the other,” Rodriguez said.
