Rain wreaks havoc on Southland roads, triggers mudslides, freeway closures

Tuesday, January 9, 2018
MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- Heavy rain wreaked havoc along Southland roads on Tuesday, triggering mudslides as well as multiple freeway closures during the morning commute.

In North Hollywood, the California Highway Patrol shut down all lanes of the 170 Freeway near the 101/134 interchange due to significant flooding in the roadway for a brief time.



According to a tweet from the highway patrol, the lanes had reopened as of 2:50 p.m.

Earlier, north of Sun Valley, a big rig drove off the northbound 5 Freeway connector to the westbound 118 Freeway, landing on the roadway below. In addition to the big rig, multiple other vehicles were also involved in the wreck. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Big rig falls from 5 Freeway connector north of Sun Valley


In Malibu, mudslides closed down a stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive. The duration of the closure was not known, the California Highway Patrol said.

Mudslide snarls traffic near Malibu


At least one car was seen stuck in the debris. Information on injuries, if any, was not immediately available.

In the Atwater Village area, a fatal crash involving a big rig shut down all lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway amid slick roads.

Fatal crash shuts down NB 5 Fwy in Atwater Village amid rain


The overturned big rig was first reported around 4 a.m. The wreck occurred on the northbound side of the freeway underneath the Griffith Park overcrossing, the California Highway Patrol said.

Details surrounding the fatality were not immediately available.

Lanes began reopening around 7 a.m.

Also, the Sepulveda Basin was closed due to rising water levels, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The following area were closed: Burbank Blvd/405 freeway, Burbank Blvd/Hayvenhurst and Victory Blvd/Woodley.

Big rig overturns on 91 transition to 710 in North Long Beach


In North Long Beach, a big rig overturned on the westbound 91 Freeway transition to the southbound 710 in around 3:30 a.m.

No injuries were reported, but it took hours for crews to upright the big rig and clear the roadways.

On the 91 Freeway just above the transition road below, another big rig went up on the embankment and hit a tree, which collapsed on the slow lane.

High winds and heavy downpours were reported in the area at the time of the crash.

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