I-5 Tunnel Fire Updates: 3 confirmed dead in I-5 tunnel crash

Sunday, October 14, 2007

I-5 Tunnel Fire Updates: 3 confirmed dead in I-5 tunnel crash

There is no anticipated opening at this time of the southbound tunnel or the overhead northbound lanes of I5 pending access for structural inspection of the 550-foot-long tunnel.
This Vital north-south route will be closed at least until Tuesday.
Heat was so intense that firefighters and other officials could not explore the tunnel beyond its ends.
They did not yet know the cause of the crash, how much damage was done to the tunnel walls and roof, or how long it would take for traffic to flow again on the eight-lane freeway overhead.

Casualties: 3 confirmed dead in I-5 tunnel crash - Fatal Count as of 10-13 - 3 Bodies (2 Adults, 1 Child) - Ten others are injured in the fiery multi-vehicle pileup. - Still Conducting search 15-20 Various Types of Vehicles.
Coroner's official Ed Winter said the three bodies that were recovered had not been identified. "We are methodically going through the wreckage vehicle by vehicle" looking for other bodies, he said.

Traffic Info-Northbound /Southbound Interstate-5 at 14, Auto and Truck Lanes-Will Be Closed Possibly for the Next 72 Hours-Traffic Should Avoid the Area If at All Possible

Traffic detours: CHP on Interstate 5... Here are the latest detours:

— Northbound from Los Angeles to Bakersfield, Sacramento: Take northbound I-5 to State Route 14, continue north to State Route 58 in Mojave and head west to State Route 99.

— Southbound to Los Angeles from Sacramento, Bakersfield: Take southbound I-5 to State Route 126, continue west to State Route 101 and head south.

— Eastbound State Route 126 to the Palmdale-Lancaster area: Take northbound I-5 to State Route 138, continue east. Another route is eastbound on State Route 126, which becomes Newhall Ranch Road, continue east to Bouquet Canyon Road and then turn west. Continue westbound to Soledad Canyon Road, turn left and continue eastbound to State Route 14.

DOT and CHP are using the old road as a bypass and have made the road a one way road at times depending on commute traffic, at this time traffic is open in both directions on the old road bypass.

Google map I-5 Newhall Pass tunnel area
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Sunday, October 14, 2007