Driver Killed In Fiery Wrong-Way Crash On 101 Freeway

LOS ANGELES — A driver died early Monday in a fiery wrong-way crash on U.S. Highway 101 in the East Hollywood area, according to police.

The incident occurred around 4 a.m. near the Santa Monica Boulevard exit, according to the California Highway Patrol. A Toyota Prius was traveling north in the southbound lanes and collided with a southbound Honda sedan then hit a pickup truck head-on, police said, adding a Jeep also struck the pickup and the Prius. A vehicle hit a tire in the northbound lanes, according to police.

The Prius was engulfed in flames and the driver died, police said, adding another victim from either the pickup or the Jeep was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

One patient was trapped inside a vehicle when firefighters arrived, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department's Margaret Stewart. The person was freed by firefighters and was taken to a hospital in unknown condition. Two patients suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries and declined transport to a hospital, Stewart said.

The CHP issued a SigAlert shutting down all southbound lanes of the Hollywood Freeway at Melrose Avenue, with traffic diverted off the roadway at Santa Monica Boulevard. All lanes reopened about 8:30 a.m., the CHP reported.

City News Service contributed to this report.