The Latest: Busy LA freeway reopened after deadly crash

HAWTHORNE, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on a deadly fuel tanker crash on a major Los Angeles-area freeway (all times local):

8:30 p.m.

Authorities have reopened the westbound side of a major freeway in south Los Angeles more than a dozen hours after a fiery crash involving a fuel tanker truck that killed two people and gridlocked traffic for hours.

The double-tanker truck and an SUV collided on the westbound side of Interstate 105 about 5 a.m. Friday, killing both vehicles’ drivers.

Authorities initially worried they might find more bodies in the twisted and burned wreckage. But none were found.

Both sides of the freeway were initially closed as firefighters carefully drained thousands of gallons of fuel from a trailer tank that overturned but did not burn.

Eastbound lanes were reopened after about three hours. The westbound lanes remained closed until shortly before 8 p.m.

___

11:40 a.m.

Authorities say one side of a major freeway in south Los Angeles County remains closed indefinitely after a deadly fuel tanker crash and fire that completely shut down the highway for hours and caused a massive traffic jam.

The double-tanker truck and an SUV collided on the westbound side of Interstate 105 early Friday a few miles (kilometers) from Los Angeles International Airport. Both drivers were killed and coroner’s officials will determine if anyone else was in the vehicles.

County Fire Department Inspector Joey Marron says fuel is being carefully removed from a trailer tank that overturned but did not burn.

Eastbound lanes were reopened to traffic after nearly three hours, but officials tell a press conference the condition of the pavement on the westbound side still needs to be assessed.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

___

6:21 a.m.

A fuel tanker is burning on a freeway in south Los Angeles County, snarling the morning commute.

The vehicle crashed and began burning around 5 a.m. Friday on the westbound side of Interstate 105 in suburban Hawthorne.

The fire has entirely shut down the freeway, which is a major route to nearby Los Angeles International Airport.

The Metro Green Line light rail route running down the center of the freeway is also shut down.

There are no immediate details on how the crash occurred.