2 Fire Trucks Separately Crash at the Same Time on PCH

Two people were badly hurt in one of two separate crashes involving L.A. County fire trucks, within a quarter mile of each other and at almost the same time, on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu today.

Two adults and two children were in a Toyota Prius that was hit broadside by a full-sized fire truck, at about 12:25 p.m., on PCH just west of Paradise Cove.

The four people were trapped in the small vehicle, sheriff’s Sgt. Daniel Nagelmann told City News Service.

One person was critically injured, a second had serious injuries, and they were freed from the car by firefighters in the truck involved in the crash, according to fire radio reports.

They were helicoptered from Pepperdine University’s landing pad to the UCLA Hospital.

One quarter mile east of that crash, a smaller fire truck also was involved in a crash at about the same time. No injuries were reported there.

Five hours after the crash, PCH was still closed as sheriff’s traffic deputies took measurements and tried to sort out the chain of events. The sheriff’s department announced just after 5 p.m. that the busy thoroughfare was reopened

There was a heavy crowd at Zuma Beach today, and thousands of bicycle riders were to cross Malibu as part of a charity fundraiser rally ride from San Francisco.

The crashes put heavy loads on Kanan-Dume Road, the only other direct route to Los Angeles. At least three other crashes were reported by the California Highway Patrol on that mountainous road, including a downed motorcycle and a reported car fire in Tunnel 2.

City News Service

Photo: Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department