Wrong-Way Driver Causes Deadly 405 Freeway Crash

A suspected wrong-way driver caused a deadly, fiery crash on the 405 Freeway early Monday morning in Hawthorne.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on July 21, 2026, emergency crews responded to reports of a wrong-way driver traveling in the southbound lanes of the northbound Interstate 405 near Rosecrans Avenue.

Authorities located a major multi-vehicle collision involving at least two vehicles, both of which caught fire following the impact.

One person, believed to be an innocent female motorist traveling northbound, was pronounced dead at the scene. A male occupant from the same vehicle was transported to a local hospital. His condition has not been released.

A bystander identified as Jose used a container of water to help extinguish flames around the victim’s vehicle before firefighters arrived.

Los Angeles County Fire Department crews cut the roof off the destroyed vehicle during the recovery operation. Firefighters also responded by driving the wrong way up an off-ramp due to a nearby Caltrans freeway closure that limited access to the crash scene.

Investigators also examined a vehicle believed to be associated with the wrong-way driver that came to rest in the HOV lanes south of the primary collision. Authorities have not released information regarding the occupants or their conditions.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the deadly crash.