17 people were injured in a 19-vehicle chain-reaction accident on the 14 freeway today, south of the Escondido Canyon Road exit. The accident happened near Agua Dulce in northern Los Angeles County. It was reported just before 10 a.m.
The CHP had stopped traffic in order to remove debris from the roadway. A big rig towing two trailers was southbound on the 14 freeway in the number three lane. The big rig was driven by 25-year-old Darwin Martinez, a Los Angeles resident. According to CHP officers, Martinez was traveling at an unsafe speed as he came around a curve and was unable to avoid colliding with stopped vehicles. The 18-wheeler initiated the chain-reaction collision that involved smashed cars, trucks and SUVs. Some vehicles came to rest on top of other vehicles.
According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, 15 people were injured and transported to the hospital. Among the injuries reported were two victims said to be in critical condition, one of whom had to be extricated from their vehicle.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a big-rig, 18-wheeler, or tractor trailer, you should speak with an experienced truck accident attorney about your right to compensation. Santa Monica personal injury attorneys Daniel McGee and Catherine Lerer are a husband and wife with extensive experience representing truck accident victims. We charge no up-front fees. We work on a contingency fee basis: our fee is a percentage of what we collect for you. If we collect nothing, you pay us nothing. We are available 24/7 for a free consultation.