A tragic four-vehicle collision early Monday morning left one person dead and another hospitalized, prompting a partial closure of the northbound I-5 Freeway near Tustin Ranch Road.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to multiple reports of an overturned vehicle in the #1 lane adjacent to the Market Place shopping center around 3:09 a.m. Upon arrival, authorities found multiple vehicles involved, one of which was overturned and fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) swiftly extinguished the blaze. Sadly, one individual was pronounced deceased at the scene, though it remains unclear whether the body was inside the burning vehicle or found elsewhere.
One other person was transported to a nearby hospital, while two others declined medical assistance.
In response to the incident, a SIG Alert has been issued, restricting traffic to the #7 lane on northbound I-5 at Jamboree Road until further notice. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances leading to the collision.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes while cleanup and investigations are ongoing.