GARDENA (CBSLA.com) — Five men suffered serious injuries when two cars careened off the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway, plunging 50 feet down an embankment in the Harbor Gateway area Friday night.

The crash occurred at approximately 9:40 p.m. near the Normandie Avenue exit, Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

All those injured were taken to a hospital.

The crash closed all but two lanes of the southbound San Diego Freeway, snarling traffic for miles, according to the California Highway Patrol.

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