4 confirmed dead after fiery crash on 605 Freeway in Norwalk, forcing closures
The CHP said the collision was first reported at 12:53 a.m. on the Firestone Boulevard onramp on the southbound 605. A Toyota Prius was struck in the HOV lane, causing multiple vehicles to collide.
Authorities said the Prius burst into flames.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP confirmed. It's not yet clear if all four were inside the Prius, or if drivers or passengers in other vehicles were killed.
Two more people were transported to a local hospital with injuries. One of them was transported in critical condition, while the other had minor injuries. The current condition of the critical patient remains unknown as of Sunday morning.
It's not yet clear what caused the initial crash. Officials didn't state whether alcohol or drug use is believed to be a factor.
All southbound lanes of the 605 remained closed as of 7 a.m. Sunday between Firestone and Rosecrans Avenue. It's not yet clear when they'll reopen.
No additional details were immediately made available.
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Absolutely no such lights were in sight. Minutes later, two police cars passed nearby, lights and sirens blaring. The Tesla didn't detect those at all. Few automakers' ADAS can specifically detect emergency vehicles, instead putting the onus on the driver to stay aware and drive accordingly. So while Autopilot's ability to do so might suggest a higher degree of capability, its equal ability to err shows shortcomings of the system, such that it seems better to do your own decision making. Frustrating Integration At least Tesla's Autosteer function works very well, keeping the vehicle confidently centered on straights and through curves. Notably, it's linked to the Traffic-Aware Cruise Control function. It does most of the steering for you, using the interior monitoring camera to watch and make sure you're paying attention and sometimes asking for a bit of input to ensure your hands are on the wheel. That's where trouble arises. 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In Tesla vehicles, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is the basic Autopilot setting. Autosteer can only be additionally activated from the touchscreen while the vehicle is parked and after you accept a liability disclaimer. Times Have Changed How excellent that once-exclusive ADAS have gone mainstream, promoting driving ease and safety. I recall one of my earliest MotorTrend reviews, where as a novice journalist I marveled at the 2020 Toyota Corolla's driver aids. Since then, I've used the ADAS features in every vehicle I've driven—adaptive cruise and lane centering are lifesavers in Los Angeles traffic. Autopilot can help too, but its strange sensitivities and untimely deactivations sometimes make it more trouble than it's worth. Its logic might be a precursor to the Full Self-Driving system Tesla so zealously promotes, but that very logic makes Autopilot an ADAS system like no other. 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