Deadly Big Rig Crash on I-15: One Fatality, Ten Hurt

Fatal Multi‑Vehicle Big Rig Crash on Southbound I‑5 in Boyle Heights Leaves One Dead and Ten Hospitalized

Overview

A tragic multi‑vehicle collision involving a big rig on the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, early Sunday morning, December 28, 2025, left one person dead and sent ten others to local hospitals. The crash occurred around 5:10 a.m. just south of 4th Street and involved at least nine vehicles, according to preliminary information from responding agencies. The cause of the collision is under active investigation.

What We Know About the Crash

- Time and location: Approximately 5:10 a.m. on December 28, 2025, southbound I‑5 near 4th Street in Boyle Heights.
- Vehicles involved: A big rig collided with multiple vehicles; nine vehicles reportedly sustained major front‑end damage.
- Fire and rescue: At least one vehicle caught fire, prompting a physical rescue response. Firefighters and emergency medical personnel treated numerous individuals at the scene.
- Road closures: All southbound lanes were temporarily shut down at roughly 5:22 a.m. to allow for rescue, fire suppression, debris removal, and investigation.
- Injuries and fatality: One person was pronounced deceased. Fifteen people were evaluated at the scene; ten were transported to hospitals with injuries ranging from moderate to serious.
- Cargo status: It was not immediately clear whether the involved big rig was carrying a load at the time of the crash.
- Investigation: Authorities are working to determine the sequence of events and contributing factors. No definitive cause has been released.

Emergency Response and Traffic Impact

Early‑morning freeway collisions can be complex due to lower visibility, higher freeway speeds, and the potential for secondary impacts as drivers approach sudden slowdowns. In this case, the full closure of southbound lanes allowed first responders to perform rescues, attend to fires, and safely document the scene. Drivers in the area experienced significant delays and were diverted to alternate routes until lanes could be reopened.

Why Multi‑Vehicle Truck Collisions Are Often Severe

Crashes involving large commercial trucks are more likely to lead to serious injury or death due to their size and weight. A fully loaded tractor‑trailer can weigh 20 to 30 times more than the average passenger car. They also sit higher off the ground, increasing the risk of underride when a smaller vehicle slides beneath the trailer during a collision. National research underscores this risk: in 2023, crashes involving large trucks resulted in 4,354 fatalities nationwide. Of those, 16 percent were truck occupants, while 65 percent were occupants of passenger vehicles. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists comprised the remaining 17 percent. Compared with 2009, total fatalities in large truck crashes were 38 percent higher in 2023, with fatalities among truck occupants rising 58 percent over the same period.

Common Factors in Multi‑Vehicle Freeway Crashes

While the specific cause of the Boyle Heights collision remains under investigation, multi‑vehicle truck crashes can involve one or more of the following contributing factors:
- Sudden changes in traffic flow or unexpected hazards ahead
- Driver inattention or distraction among any involved motorists
- Following too closely and inadequate stopping distances for heavy trucks
- Speed relative to traffic and roadway conditions
- Poor visibility or low‑light conditions
- Mechanical issues, such as brake or tire failures
- Lane changes, merges, or incidents near on‑ramps and off‑ramps
- Weather‑related factors, including slick road surfaces

Multi-vehicle crashes involving big rigs raise complex legal issues, including driver conduct, following distance, braking capability, vehicle maintenance, and compliance with state and federal trucking regulations. As authorities continue investigating the Boyle Heights I-5 collision, families and injured victims may need clarity about wrongful death and personal injury claims under California law.

Avian Law Group has extensive experience handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving commercial trucks in Los Angeles. If you or your family were affected by this crash, our attorneys can help evaluate liability, identify all responsible parties, and pursue full and fair compensation. Contact us for a no-obligation case evaluation.