Driver Stranded on Freeway Dies After Being Hit by Cars

LOS ANGELES — A man standing beside his broken-down car near a Santa Monica Freeway exit was killed early Monday after he was hit by several motorists, causing part of the freeway to be closed for up to four hours.

CHP officers said the accident occurred about 5:45 a.m. when a man, standing by his car on the triangle-shaped portion of the shoulder at the Alameda exit, was hit by a driver who told officers she was going 70 mph to 75 mph. She told police she swerved to try to miss the man but could not avoid hitting him.

The man, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, was thrown into other lanes of the freeway and hit several times more, said CHP Officer Monica Lopez.

Officers said the aftermath was horrific.

“It was awful. One of the worst accidents I’ve ever seen,” said CHP Sgt. William Dance.

The CHP closed down all eastbound lanes and traffic backed up for close to five miles, Lopez said. Drivers were forced to use surface streets. Two eastbound lanes were reopened about 9:40 a.m.

Lopez said that other drivers could learn from the tragedy. She cautioned people with disabled cars stuck in precarious positions on the freeway to stay in their cars with seat belts fastened and hazard lights on. “Help will come if you just sit tight,” she said.

Dance said a decision has not been made on whether to charge the female driver. The woman, who was not identified by the CHP, was interviewed at the scene and released.