One Dead in 5 Freeway Crash in Pacoima
PACOIMA, CA – One person was killed early Sunday morning in a multi-vehicle crash on the northbound 5 Freeway in Pacoima, according to authorities.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:35 a.m. on the northbound freeway at Terra Bella Street, according to the California Highway Patrol. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the crash involved two vehicles. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and the victim had not been publicly identified as of Sunday morning. The CHP said the collision involved a white Honda sedan and at least two other vehicles.
A SigAlert was issued shutting down northbound lanes 1 through 6 in the wake of the collision. The SigAlert expired at 8 a.m. Sunday. All lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway were fully reopened following the investigation.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the CHP. No information on the identity of the deceased, injuries to other parties, or the circumstances leading up to the collision had been released as of Sunday.
If you or a loved one was injured in this accident, we’d like to speak with you. Our accident attorneys are available for a free and confidential consultation, 24/7.
Danger of 5 Freeway in Pacoima
Sunday’s fatal crash was not an isolated event on this stretch of freeway. In December 2025, a car and a semi-truck collided on the northbound 5 Freeway near Osbourne Street in Pacoima, setting one vehicle on fire and killing one person. In 2022 alone, there were 128 deaths on the I-5 statewide, making it California’s deadliest highway by total fatalities.
The timing of Sunday’s crash — just after 3:30 a.m. — falls squarely within a window safety researchers have identified as especially dangerous. SafeTREC and FARS analyses show that speeding-related fatal crashes concentrate in the evening and late-night hours, and open roads combined with darkness and impairment represent the deadliest combination on California highways. Fatal crash rates increase at night, and the chance of death in a collision doubles for every 10 mph over 50 mph — making high-speed crashes in the dark particularly lethal.
Statewide, California recorded 3,807 traffic fatalities in 2024, the lowest total since 2019 and a 6.3 percent decrease from 2023, according to NHTSA early estimates. At that rate, more than 10 people die every single day on California’s roads, and the state ranks second in the nation for total traffic fatalities behind only Texas.
Who May Be Liable in Car Accidents
When a multi-vehicle crash results in a fatality on a California freeway, determining liability requires a careful examination of each driver’s conduct. California follows a system of pure comparative fault under Civil Code Section 1714, which means that responsibility for a crash can be apportioned among multiple parties — and an injured party or surviving family member may still pursue compensation even if one of the involved drivers bears partial fault.
In wrongful death cases arising from traffic collisions, surviving family members — including spouses, children, and in some circumstances parents — may bring a civil claim under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60. Recoverable damages encompass both economic losses, such as lost financial support and funeral costs, and noneconomic losses, including loss of companionship and pre-death pain and suffering.
Because the cause of Sunday’s crash remains under active investigation by the CHP, a full picture of liability has not yet emerged. Investigators will reconstruct the sequence of events by examining driver conduct, vehicle dynamics, and road conditions. Scene evidence and any available camera footage or witness accounts will inform the CHP’s ultimate findings and any subsequent civil or criminal proceedings.
If You Lost Someone in a California Freeway Crash
Families navigating the aftermath of a fatal collision face urgent competing pressures — the civil case runs on a separate track from the CHP’s criminal and administrative investigation, and that investigation does not protect your civil rights or initiate a claim on your behalf.
If you lost a family member in a crash on the 5 Freeway or anywhere in California, J&Y Law offers free, confidential consultations with no obligation. Our attorneys handle wrongful death and serious injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning there are no fees unless we recover compensation for you. To speak with an attorney about your situation, contact J&Y Law today.
