Updated at 11:40 a.m., April 17, 2015
A motorist was killed Friday when an out-of-control big rig barreled down a freeway offramp in Pacoima, crashing into four other vehicles.
A man in his 30s died at the scene of the 6:40 a.m. crash at Foothill Boulevard and Paxton Street, said LA Coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter. His name was withheld, pending family notification.
Paramedics transported four other people for hospital treatment, some in critical condition, according to reports from the scene.
The crash involved a big rig whose driver lost control of the truck right before the Paxton Street offramp of the Foothill (210) Freeway, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Ming Hsu.
“The driver of the big rig was on the freeway in the number four lane, had a coughing fit, lost control of the vehicle, came down the embankment and onto the offramp,” Hsu said.
The big rig then slammed into an SUV and a car that were stopped at a stop sign, and then crashed into a pickup truck, pushing it into a dump truck, Hsu said. The pickup truck’s driver was killed.
“We definitely are looking into distracted driving and intoxication,” Hsu said. “However, at this point, there are no indications of any of those.”
The Paxton Street offramp was closed while an investigation was conducted, and traffic on surface streets was routed away from the area.
Authorities urged witnesses to call investigators.
—City News Service