A violent road rage incident brought the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California to a standstill on Thursday afternoon, October 10, 2024, leaving one man dead and another seriously injured. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the confrontation involved two vehicles: a gold Cadillac sedan and a dark-colored Dodge Durango. The drivers had been aggressively pursuing each other before gunfire erupted on the freeway.
According to CHP Lt. Bob Purvis, the occupants of the Dodge Durango opened fire on those inside the gold Cadillac, with bullets hitting several other nearby vehicles. However, none of the people in the other vehicles were injured.
Afterward, the driver of the Cadillac made a U-turn on the freeway, driving into oncoming traffic and colliding with multiple cars before stopping. Both individuals in the Cadillac sustained gunshot injuries; one, a man in his 20s, died at the scene, while the other was taken to the hospital. The two men in the Durango managed to escape.
The driver of the Cadillac, who suffered serious injuries, was transported to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery. As of the latest update, his condition remains unknown. The suspects who fled in the Dodge Durango have not yet been apprehended.
Residents living near the incident expressed their distress over the tragedy at one of the country’s busiest freeway intersections. Aaria Arana, a local resident, noted that the situation is troubling, as people are simply trying to make their way home without knowing what dangers might arise.
This recent shooting is not an isolated event. Los Angeles frequently ranks as one of the highest cities in the nation for road rage incidents, with nearly 870 cases reported in 2022 alone. The incidents have become increasingly violent, often involving firearms. Over a third of L.A.’s road rage episodes now involve a gun, highlighting the grave risks that can emerge from heated exchanges on the road.
Traffic on the freeway was snarled for hours as authorities worked to clear the scene, with a miles-long backup persisting well into the evening. Officers issued a SigAlert, and the lanes were only reopened shortly after midnight. As the investigation continues, the CHP urges anyone with information to come forward.