210 Freeway crash causes Metro Gold Line disruptions

PASADENA (FOX 11 / CNS) - A Fedex big rig crashed into a disabled car on the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway in Pasadena Thursday, and one of its two trailers went through a median and ended up on Metro Gold Line tracks, prompting rail service disruptions and freeway lane closures.

The crash was reported at 1:20 a.m. near North Lake Avenue, said the California Highway Patrol.

Metro spokesman Rick Jager said the wreckage ended up on two sets of Metro Gold Line tracks, blocking rail traffic near the Lake Station. Arrangements were made for a bus bridge between the Memorial Park Station and Allen Station.

According to the CHP, a 2016 Volkswagen sedan was westbound on the freeway when it collided with a big rig that was in front of it. The Volkswagen became disabled in traffic lanes, and the big rig pulled to the right shoulder.

"A short while later, a second truck ... was traveling westbound on I- 210, near Lake Avenue, and collided with the disabled sedan,'' a CHP statement said. "The second truck, (a) tractor trailer combination, veered to the left, collided into the center divider and overturned.

"The truck tractor and forward trailer came to rest ... blocking the HOV, No. 1 and No. 2 lanes of I-210 westbound,'' the CHP said. "The rear trailer overturned into the Metro rail tracks, collided with a power pole for overhead lines and came to rest within the Metro rail tracks.''

The driver of the Volkswagen fled on foot and has not been found, the CHP reported. It was unknown if the motorist was inside the car when it was hit by the second big rig, the CHP reported. The driver of the FedEx truck was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

All eastbound lanes were blocked until about 2:20 a.m., when the Nos. 4 and 5 lanes were reopened. The remaining two lanes were reopened late this morning.

Metro officials said they weren't sure how long it would take to reopen the rail tracks.

Early this afternoon, Jager said an accommodation had been made between Metro and Metrolink to allow Metro customers to use their Transit Access Pass cards on some Metrolink San Bernardino Line trains until further notice, while crews work to reopen the Gold Line tracks.

Westbound travelers may board the Metrolink San Bernardino Line train at the Covina Station or the Baldwin Park Station to go to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. And eastbound travelers may board the Metrolink San Bernardino Line train at Union Station to go to the Baldwin Park Station or the Covina Station.

Metro travelers must show their TAP cards to conductors aboard the Metrolink trains, Jager said.