Freeway Crashes Across San Gabriel Valley, LA County, CHP Reports

ARCADIA, CA — Nearly 200 crashes were reported in Los Angeles County freeways as a result of the rain that fell in the first of two storm systems forecast to strike the Southland , authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol said there were 191 traffic crashes from 5 p.m. Wednesday to midnight. That's more than three times as many accidents as on a dry day, said CHP Officer Dion Conley, who said 55 crashes were reported in the same time frame on Dec. 8.

Rainfall totals ranging from a tenth of an inch to a half-inch are expected across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with up to an inch in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and foothills, as a result of the first storm, which arrived Thursday packing an infusion of moisture from south of Los Angeles and which is forecast to clear out by this afternoon.

City News Service, Shutterstock Photo