OCEANSIDE, CA – A fiery crash on Northbound I-5 early Monday morning caused a complete shutdown of the freeway just north of Oceanside, triggering major traffic delays near Camp Pendleton.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the crash occurred around 7:00 a.m. and involved a single SUV that overturned and caught fire, trapping at least one person inside. Authorities have not confirmed how many people were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Due to the severity of the incident, a medical helicopter was dispatched and landed directly on the freeway, forcing a full closure of the northbound lanes for several minutes.
CHP shared images showing the SUV on its side with its front end completely destroyed. No official updates have been given regarding the extent of the injuries.
Traffic was backed up for several miles as emergency crews responded to the scene. Caltrans announced that the traffic advisory was lifted shortly after 9:00 a.m., though several lanes remained closed throughout the morning.
