2 killed in 2 separate accidents on NB 57 Fwy in Orange County

FULLERTON, Calif. (KABC) -- Two people were killed in two separate accidents on the northbound 57 Freeway in Orange County Wednesday morning, tying up traffic for miles.

The body of a woman was found on the roadway near Imperial Highway in Brea at about 2:30 a.m. Brea police said the woman jumped from the Imperial Highway overpass onto the northbound 57 Freeway and was fatally struck by several vehicles.

About 30 minutes later, a second incident was reported by the California Highway Patrol about a couple miles south.

A pickup truck plowed into the back of a big rig at Yorba Linda Boulevard in Fullerton. The driver of the pickup truck, a 21-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene, CHP said. The big rig was stopped due to the first incident.

The carpool lane of the northbound 57 Freeway was the only lane open in the Fullerton area for several hours following the fatal crash. All northbound lanes were reopened at about 6:30 a.m.

It's unclear what exactly caused the driver to hit the big rig. Investigators are working to determine if speed, alcohol or drugs may have played a role in the incident.