Multiple lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway in Los Angeles County have been shut down following a crash involving a semi-truck during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and the closure is set to last well into the morning. 

According to the California Highway Patrol, the incident was first reported just before 3 a.m. Sunday south of the Parker Road exit in Castaic. 

The truck drove off the roadway, taking out part of the guardrail as it did so and falling into a waterway, authorities told KTLA. 

Many precautions are being taken to ensure that the fuel from the truck doesn’t leak into the waterway; officials confirmed an hour after the crash that the #3 and #4 lanes would be closed for approximately six hours. 

“[The waterway] basically will drain into the ocean, so we are going to control that spillage and make sure and make sure there isn’t any fuel that goes into the waterway as we extract the vehicle,” said Vincent Mendez of Freeway Towing Company, one of the agencies working to clear the scene. 

The cause of the crash is under investigation, and the driver of the semi truck was said to have been transported from the scene to receive medical attention.

Authorities are advising anyone who needs to travel through the Grapevine on Sunday morning to drive with caution and pack their patience.

Thirty homeless people were moved out of an encampment in Santa Fe Springs earlier this month.

The effort, led by L.A. County’s Pathway Home program, was conducted with the help of local agencies and the county’s sheriff’s department on Dec. 19.

The operation focused on an encampment of 30 people living along the San Gabriel River and the 605 Freeway where people lived in makeshift structures and tents.

Homeless residents were moved inside to local motels for interim housing as officials worked to clear the encampment of debris and dilapidated structures.

“The goal of Pathway Home is to address homelessness in each community where, as people become homeless, we’re able to quickly and efficiently bring them inside, triage them and get them the services they need so we no longer have these big encampments,” explained Ivan Sulic, Deputy for L.A. County’s Homeless Initiatives and Outreach. “So when people go to their parks or civic centers, they are free and clear of these encampments. I think it’s a win-win for the quality of life in the community and for those experiencing homelessness.”

Multiple agencies helped with the operations, including:

• Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)
• L.A. County Sheriff’s Department
• City of Santa Fe Springs
• L.A. County Department of Public Works

“Encampments are communities and we have seen that people are more likely to accept help and housing if they know their entire encampment is accepting help together,” said L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I am grateful that, thanks to the hard work of our outreach workers, first responders, and public works employees, these 30 individuals are inside safe for the holidays and on a pathway to long-term housing.”

“This innovative encampment resolution program is not just about providing shelter, it’s about restoring dignity, hope, and opportunity,” said Santa Fe Springs Mayor Bill Rounds.

More information about Pathway Home can be found here.

Suspects dressed in black police-style attire are alleged to have performed an armed robbery at an apartment building in Los Angeles, authorities say.

The incident was reported at about 2:40 a.m. Saturday morning at an apartment building on the 3100 block of Wilshire Boulevard in Koreatown.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, four suspects entered the building and assaulted a resident. The victim, who wasn’t identified, didn’t sustain any major injuries and refused medical treatment.

The suspects, three of which were dressed as police officers, made off with a “large sum” of cash and jewelry, according to LAPD.

Authorities say a black semi-automatic handgun was used in the alleged robbery, although the weapon was not found at the scene.

The suspects remain unidentified as of Saturday evening and remain at large.

No additional details were immediately made available.