I-405 reopens in Seal Beach after construction accident that injured 2

SEAL BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The 405 Freeway was closed for several hours at the 605 Freeway in Seal Beach Wednesday morning because of a construction accident that injured two Caltrans workers.

According to officials, three steel beams -- about 130 feet long and more than 60,000 pounds apiece -- fell around 2:45 a.m. onto the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway. The beam fell from a new connector that will link the 605 to the 405.

One worker fell 25 feet and was transported to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in moderate condition. Authorities say the man, who is in his 50s, was awake and talking. He suffered from leg pain and a head injury.

A 47-year-old man who was standing on the ledge was struck by the beam, but he did not fall. He was also taken to the hospital in moderate condition.

The accident caused a full closure of the freeway because of large equipment working from both sides. The northbound side reopened just before 7 a.m., and the southbound side reopened around 8 a.m.