Driver With Gun Forces Closure Of PCH In Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A car accident involving five vehicles in Laguna Beach Wednesday quickly turned into a barricade situation involving SWAT when officers approached a driver with a gun in his lap.

Police said around 5:20 p.m., they answered the accident call in the area of Pacific Coast Highway and Vista Del Sol.

While investigating the circumstances of the accident, authorities said they came upon a Latino man in a Mustang who had a gun in his lap.

They ordered the man out of the vehicle but they said he refused.

Officials said the man told them if they pulled his car door open the vehicle would explode.

Traffic was shut between 7th Avenue and Vista Del Sol, according to officials.

The man was not identified but police said he was a 42-year-old man from LA County.