Fiery Tanker Crash Creates Surreal Scene On SoCal Freeway

HAWTHORNE, CA — A tanker crash on the westbound Century (105) Freeway exploded into flames, killing two people and closing both directions of the freeway in Hawthorne Friday morning. The scene created a surreal scene with stranded commuters walking around the freeway, lining up outside a taco truck in the carpool lane.

The crash involving a tanker and an SUV happened at 5:15 a.m. on the westbound side of the freeway near Prairie Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol. It snarled rush hour traffic for thousands. Stranded drivers walked along the freeway. The food truck opened for business, and hungry commuters lined up as smoke from the crash billowed above them.

The two drivers in the crash died at the scene, according to reports. The flames shot high into the sky and burned for more than an hour with fuel spilling onto the roadway shoulder, where firefighters dammed the flow so crews could clean up the spill.

Uber driver Hisaki Shimidu told reporters he saw the SUV speeding through traffic before the crash.

"I saw one reckless driver (going) very fast -- 75 to 80 miles per hour ... almost like racing," Shimidu said. The SUV then struck the center divider, he said.

CHP Capt. Doug Young said the cause of the collision was under investigation.

"What we have right now is a set of double gasoline tankers," Young told reporters after daybreak. "The front tanker overturned after hitting the center divider wall. It appears to have gotten involved with a civilian SUV."

Metro Green Line service was suspended between the Hawthorne/Lennox and Vermont/Athens stations due to the fire, Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo said, adding bus bridges were provided for rail passengers affected by the closure.

As of about 7:15 a.m., Metro crews were awaiting permission from first responders to enter the affected area and assess the damage to the rail system, Ubaldo said. About 8 a.m., the eastbound freeway was reopened, but westbound lanes remained blocked. It was unclear how long the westbound closure would remain in effect.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Youtube screengrab