The California Highway Patrol Friday continued its investigation into a fiery crash that killed two people on the Golden State (5) Freeway in Sylmar.
Officers responded to the northbound freeway just south of Roxford Street at 10:41 p.m. Thursday, according to CHP Officer Carlos Lopez.
They found that a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee had rear-ended a trailer at the back of a semi-truck and burst into flames, with its airbags deploying, according to the CHP.
Firefighters put out the fire, but the driver and a passenger in the Jeep were killed.
The semi also sustained heavy damage, but its driver was not injured, according to a report from the scene.
The CHP issued a Sigalert for the closure of three lanes of the northbound freeway for several hours while it investigated the cause of the collision, Lopez said.
“This is a tragic accident that claimed the lives of two motorists,” CHP Captain E. A. Krusey said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the families affected by this devastating loss. We are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine what happened.”