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Red Mercedes Convertible Among First On Interstate 405

LOS ANGELES (CBS) —A driver in a red Mercedes Benz convertible was among the first to drive on the newly reopened San Diego (405) Freeway.

405 Freeway Reopens Ahead Of Schedule
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The man, seen waving at our chopper (Sky9) overhead, reportedly went through barricades to get on the southbound freeway at Skirball, but was not stopped by the California Highway Patrol.

 

There was another man who went through barricades to get on the freeway -- a skateboarder who shot video of him racing down the 405 at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.

405 Skateboarder Brad McGee
Bryan McGee took advantage of the empty 405 Freeway and rode his skateboard down the 405 Freeway. With a camera mounted to his helmet, he captured his joyride on video as he raced past construction crews. (credit: Noel Kleinman/UGC/CBS)

Bryan McGee took advantage of the empty roadway this weekend to take a joyride through the Sepulveda Pass.

With a camera mounted to his helmet, McGee raced passed several work crews but says no one stopped him.

Eventually, a California Highway Patrol officer pulled McGee over and warned him not to do it again.

 

Crews began to open the mainline and some offramps of the freeway just after 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Onramps were scheduled to be the last to open with the freeway expected to be fully functional by 3 p.m.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held a news conference Sunday morning to announce that the roadway would reopen some 17 hours ahead of schedule and thanked the people of Los Angeles for their cooperation.

"And yet not enough is said about the people of Los Angeles, when they come together, when they decide that we all have to work together to make something work," the mayor said.

The much-anticipated 405 closure, labeled by some as "Carmageddon" turned out to be "Carma-heaven" for many as Los Angeles drivers listened to warnings and avoided the westside altogether.

If you are the driver in this story or know him, we want to hear from you! Please contact our Assignment Desk via email at kcbstvassignmentdesk@cbs.com.

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