5 hospitalized in 2 separate crashes involving several vehicles on PCH in Malibu

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- Five people were injured, one critically, in two separate crashes involving several vehicles Friday morning on a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, authorities said.

The first crash was reported as a vehicle that had struck a dump truck shortly before 7 a.m. at PCH and Tonga Street, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. Four patients were hospitalized after being involved in that collision: one was listed in critical condition, two in moderate condition, and a third suffered minor injuries.

The second crash, involving three vehicles, was reported at 7:30 a.m. near the scene of the first incident. Investigators told ABC7 a California Highway Patrol vehicle was rear-ended, causing it hit another vehicle.

One person was transported to a hospital in unknown condition in connection with the first collision.

Three patients declined medical care: two after the first crash, one after the second, a Fire Department spokesperson said. Whether any of the injured were pedestrians was not immediately known.

Malibu crash: Driver reached 104 mph before collision that killed 4 Pepperdine students, Gascón says

We're hearing from the parents of some of the Pepperdine University students who were killed in a crash on PCH in Malibu last month. They're still struggling with the loss.

The causes of the crashes was under investigation.

PCH was closed to northbound traffic as crews worked to clear the scene. No estimate was given of when the lanes would be reopened.

On Oct. 17, a 22-year-old driver of a BMW struck and killed four Pepperdine University students who were standing alongside PCH in Malibu. Prosecutors said he was speeding at more than 100 mph moments before the crash.

Fraser Michael Bohm pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder and four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said.

The defendant's attorney, Michael Kraut, told The Associated Press the crash occurred as Bohm was being chased following a road rage incident. An L.A. County sheriff's sergeant said that investigators had "no evidence" that the crash stemmed from a road rage incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.