Crash Causes Brush Fire To Erupt On Side Of WB 118 Fwy In Simi Valley
SIMI VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — Crews on Friday worked to extinguish a brush fire that has erupted on the side of a freeway in Simi Valley.
Around 6 a.m., a truck struck the back of a vehicle traveling on the westbound 118 Freeway at Rocky Peak Road, according to California Highway Patrol officers.
The car subsequently rolled 300 feet down an embankment off of the freeway.
The truck caught on fire as a result of the crash, which caused a brush fire to erupt in the area.
Shortly before 7:30 a.m., a firefighter was hoisted down from a helicopter to help rescue a person trapped within the car that rolled down the embankment.
The victim, who sought refuge in a storm drain to protect himself from the flames, was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills.
According to the Ventura County Fire Department, the fire has expanded to about 15-acres.
Multiple air units flew overhead and made several water drops in an effort to extinguish the flames and smoke from the area.
CBS2's Stephanie Simmons reported CHP officers have confirmed they are in the process of shutting down the westbound lanes of the freeway.
The on-ramps have been shut down on the eastbound side of the freeway.
Simmons advised taking the 101 Freeway as an alternate route.
At this time, no evacuation orders have been issued as no homes have been threatened in the area.
No further injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
