According to the California Highway Patrol, the chain-reaction collision happened just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday on northbound lanes near Florence Avenue.
3 killed, 2 others injured in multi-vehicle crash on northbound 5 Freeway in Norwalk
Officials say the driver of 2017 Honda crashed into the sound wall along the freeway and the car became disabled within the roadway. A tow truck driver stopped to help when two other cars, a 2011 Kia and 2016 Toyota, collided into the tow truck.
A woman and two men were killed in the back-to-back collisions. They were 32, 40 and 41 years old.
The driver of the Honda and the two cars that crashed into the tow truck were later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.