Sylmar, CA — A serious traffic collision on West Polk Street Friday morning left a woman trapped inside her vehicle, prompting a rapid emergency response from Los Angeles fire and medical crews.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), responders were dispatched at approximately 8:26 a.m. to the 14100 block of West Polk Street near Foothill Boulevard after reports of a crash involving a person trapped. Upon arrival, firefighters found a female driver pinned in the driver’s seat, unable to exit the vehicle on her own.

LAFD firefighters and paramedics worked in close coordination to safely and quickly extricate the woman from the wreckage. Officials reported that she was in fair condition at the scene. After receiving initial medical treatment, she was transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluation and care. No additional injuries were reported, and the cause of the collision remains under investigation.

This incident underscores ongoing concerns about traffic safety across Los Angeles. In 2023, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported 8,116 fatal and injury crash victims citywide, placing Los Angeles among the highest for serious collisions in large California jurisdictions. Alcohol-related crashes accounted for 1,508 victims, with young drivers aged 21–34 representing a significant portion. Motorcycle crashes injured or killed 553 victims, while 1,432 pedestrians and 393 bicyclists were also involved in serious incidents.

Speed-related crashes totaled 1,104, and 1,498 collisions occurred during nighttime hours between 9 p.m. and 2:59 a.m. Hit-and-run incidents were also prevalent, affecting 2,549 victims, alongside 3,515 DUI arrests reported by local law enforcement.