Violent 2-Vehicle Traffic Collision in Lake Balboa Leaves 1 Dead, 1 Critically Injured

LAKE BALBOA, LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20 (KNN) — A two-vehicle traffic collision in the Lake Balboa neighborhood of Los Angeles Tuesday morning left a man dead in one of the severely damaged vehicles and a woman trapped in critical condition.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was dispatched to a reported traffic collision at 9:42 a.m. in the 17300 block of West Saticoy Street.

Two wrecked vehicles were found upon arrival, with a woman trapped inside a car and a man found deceased inside a pickup truck.

The pickup truck had collided with a tree and structure, but did not penetrate the building, according to the LAFD. However, a natural gas meter was damaged and LAFD crews were able to stop the leak of natural gas.

The woman, who was the sole occupant of the car, was extricated by firefighters and transported to a regional trauma center in critical condition, reported Brian Humphrey with the LAFD.

“Southern California Gas Company crews, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and Los Angeles Public Health (damaged business was a restaurant and therefore requires health department clearance) have been notified and are responding,” stated Humphrey.

The pickup truck that had struck the building was from a commercial pest control firm. Due to the forceful collision(s), the truck’s cargo of commercial pesticide “containers” were ejected alongside the roadway and building, reported the LAFD.

An LAFD Hazardous Materials Squad was summoned per protocol to survey the scene to assure no actual pesticide “product” had been spilled.

“Though no escalating or off-site hazard has been identified, the immediate area of the collision has been cordoned off until the LAFD HazMat investigation is complete. No persons at the scene have any medical complaints, and there is no formal evacuation,” reported Humphrey.

Humphrey said that though there was rain in the area Tuesday morning, the specific cause of the crash and any factors related to it, will be determined by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division.

Oscar Sol, Video Journalist / KNN