UPDATE: 4 p.m. — Pacific Coast Highway has reopened in both directions following a fatal traffic accident Saturday morning, sheriff’s officials said.
After the accident, which occurred when a car traveling eastbound drifted into oncoming traffic and collided with two cars at the Rambla Pacifico Road intersection, resulted in three injuries and one fatality.
Two people were airlifted to UCLA-Westwood for treatment, including the driver of the car that lost control, according to Lt. Weber of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station. A woman in one of the westbound cars was transferred by ambulance to UCLA-Santa Monica and released shortly after being treated for minor injuries.
A fourth person was declared dead at the scene. The names of the victims have not been released pending notification of next of kin, Weber said.
UPDATE: 1 p.m. — Pacific Coast Highway remains closed in both directions at Rambla Pacifico and is expected to be closed until at least 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. while officials investigate a fatal accident, and possibly longer, according to Lt. Weber of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
Motorists are encouraged to take alternate routes through Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Kanan Dume Road or Malibu Canyon Road, Weber said. As of noon traffic was backed up east to Topanga Canyon Boulevard and west to the Malibu Pier, according to a report from 89.3 KPCC radio. The report also stated the fatality was a juvenile.
Pacific Coast Highway is closed in both directions as of 10:30 a.m. and expected to remain that way for several hours after a fatal crash Saturday morning near the intersection of Rambla Pacifico Road.
Around 8:10 a.m. a vehicle traveling eastbound on PCH lost control, drifted into oncoming traffic and struck a car traveling westbound, which in turn struck another vehicle, said Sgt. Arnold of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station. The driver of the car that lost control is injured and his passenger was declared dead at the scene, Arnold said.
It is not currently clear what caused the driver to lose control.
Traffic is closed completely in both directions. The highway is not expected to reopen at the site “for several more hours” Arnold said at 10:30 a.m.
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