Castaic – California
Two traffic accidents involving five vehicles on the Interstate 5 early Saturday morning led to an arrest on suspicion of DUI, the transportation of four people to the hospital and lane closures, said California Highway Patrol Officer Ben Ellis.
A sedan and a tractor trailer collided on the southbound I-5 just south of Templin Highway near Castaic at 6:03 a.m., Ellis said.
About two minutes later, the first accident led to a second collision involving a pick-up truck, an SUV, another sedan and tractor trailer already at the site, according to Ellis.
Officers arrested the male driver of the sedan in the first collision on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The suspect was injured in the second collision because he stepped out of his vehicle after the first collision, Ellis said.
The suspect was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, along with the driver of the second sedan and two passengers in that vehicle, Ellis said.
CHP officers shut down the third and fourth lanes for about an hour. The first and second lanes were closed only five to 10 minutes after the crash.
Authorities still do not know what directly caused the accident.
“We’re still investigating at this point,” Ellis said.
