Two Killed In 55 Freeway Collision Monday

LAKE FOREST, CA — A fatal collision on the Costa Mesa to Garden Grove Freeway transition closed a freeway interchange early Monday morning.

Traffic was halted overnight for the investigation following a collision that killed two early Monday when two vehicles collided on the transition from the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway to the Garden Grove (22) Freeway in the city of Orange, authorities said.

A 2006 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling southbound on the 55 Freeway north of the 22 Freeway just before 2 a.m. when the driver lost control of the truck, which veered to the right and left the road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Silverado slammed into a metal guardrail and wood posts west of the road's edge, then collided with a metal light pole on the dirt shoulder and went airborne, overturning and landing on the northbound 55 transition to the westbound 22. The Silverado finally stopped, upright, on a dirt embankment and then erupted in flames, according to the CHP.

Three other passing cars slammed into the metal light pole that fell into traffic lanes after it was struck by the Silverado, the CHP reported. No one in those vehicles was injured.

Two good Samaritans jumped out of their vehicles and pulled the passenger out of the Silverado, according to the CHP.

The Silverado's driver was pronounced dead at the scene at just after 2:45 a.m., and his passenger died at Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana. Their names were not immediately released.

The collision was reported at shortly before 2 a.m. on the transition from the northbound Costa Mesa Freeway to the westbound Garden Grove Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Witnesses told the CHP at least one of the vehicles was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash.

A female witness in one vehicle told the CHP her husband was trying to pull people out of the burning vehicle. That auto fire set off a small brush fire that firefighters put out according to those at the scene.

The CHP issued a SigAlert at 2:15 a.m. closing the transition from the northbound Costa Mesa Freeway to the westbound Garden Grove Freeway. It was reopened at 6 a.m.

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