Authorities are searching for a gunman who shot a driver on the 110 Freeway in Florence Thursday in an attack that forced a temporary closure of the northbound lanes.
The incident was first reported as a simple collision just north of the 105 Freeway around 3:30 p.m.
However, when California Highway Patrol officers arrived they quickly determined the driver of a beige sedan had been shot as he was traveling on the transition road from westbound 105.
“The motorist was struck, unfortunately, and was transported to a nearby hospital,” CHP officer Chris Baldonado told KTLA.
Northbound lanes of the freeway were closed for the investigation.
“By the time you respond and actually get on scene, minutes have gone by at that point,” Maldonado said. “A small (bullet) casing, a quarter of an inch in diameter maybe, and three-quarters of an inch in length, that’s something so small it could have been kicked up on the ground into other lanes, or it could’ve been picked up and stuck in a tire, who knows. That’s the reason why you want to do a thorough search.”
The victim was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
Police released no information about the gunman.
Anyone with information or dash cam video that might have captured footage of the attack can call the CHP at 424-551-4000.