Westminster, CA – A deadly crash on the southbound I-405 near Bolsa Avenue left one person dead and another with moderate injuries on Wednesday afternoon, January 7. The incident occurred around 5:21 p.m., when three vehicles, including a red Ford Mustang, collided on the freeway.

The crash led to a fiery explosion, with one of the vehicles becoming fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze while emergency crews attended to the injured. Tragically, one person was pronounced dead at the scene, while another was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The identities of the victims have not been released, and the cause of the accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The collision caused significant traffic delays, with all southbound lanes on I-405 closed until approximately 6:28 p.m. as authorities worked to clear the wreckage and investigate the cause.

This tragic crash adds to the ongoing concern of traffic-related incidents in Westminster. In 2022, the city reported 2,922 accidents, resulting in 612 injuries or fatalities. Speed and alcohol were major contributing factors, and Westminster ranked among the top 30 cities in California for fatal and injury crashes. In 2023, the city saw 562 total fatal and injury collisions, with a worrying number of motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents.