MELROSE—A hit-and-run accident led to a five-hour closure of the Hollywood 101 Freeway Monday, August 13. The crash occurred around 10 p.m. involving a black Chrysler Sedan and a black 4-door Honda Civic, where the Honda struck the rear driver side of the Chrysler near Melrose Avenue and Mariposa Avenue. The Chrysler was driven by a man from Bakersfield.
The impact of the crash caused the Chrysler to hit the utility pole on Melrose Avenue. The utility pole’s lines detached and fell onto the adjacent freeway.
Officers from the California Highway Patrol arrived on the scene and directed oncoming traffic, from both sides, away from the fallen power lines. Caltrans closed all lanes of the 101 allowing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to make the necessary repairs to fix the fallen lines and the damaged utility pole. Lanes re-opened to motorist at 3 a.m. Tuesday.
An LAPD Central Traffic Division official told Canyon News that the Honda Civic fled the scene. There were two people inside the Chrysler that struck the pole, and both sustained injuries. Though both complained of injury, neither were transported to the hospital, the LAPD Central Traffic Division representative informed Canyon News.
