Freeway Accident Turns Into Brush Fire, Rescue

(FOX 11 / CNS) Firefighters from the Los Angeles city and county fire departments assisted their colleagues Friday in Ventura County in the battle to extinguish a brush fire that scorched several acres north of the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway in Simi Valley.

The fire was reported at about 5:40 a.m. and prompted closure of two lanes of the westbound freeway between Rocky Peak Fire Road and Kuehner Drive, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The brush apparently was ignited when a pickup truck crashed off the side of the roadway, according to the CHP. The truck driver was airlifted to a
hospital in critical condition.

The firefighters appeared to have gained the upper hand on the flames within about 90 minutes.

From Christine O'Donnell:

Firefighters say they're amazed the driver of a pickup truck survived after falling 300 feet down a ravine next to the 118 Freeway.

SkyFox captured video as he was airlifted from the vehicle.

Morning traffic was slowed for hours as firefighters assisted Ventura County in the battle to extinguish the brush fire that scorched about 15 acres north of the 118 Freeway in Simi Valley.

CHP is investigating the initial cause of the accident.