A tragic multi-vehicle collision on the Northbound 110 Freeway resulted in the death of one driver and left a tank truck carrying aviation fuel overturned late Saturday night.

At 10:55 PM on November 2, 2024, the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) responded to a reported traffic collision on the Northbound 110 Freeway x Manchester. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a tank truck on its side, with the tank separated from its tractor unit. The tractor had rolled onto a passenger vehicle, fatally injuring the driver inside.

The truck, which contained a maximum of 9,000 gallons of aviation fuel, experienced a significant leak along with several smaller leaks. Firefighters quickly employed a redwood plug to contain the larger breach but were unable to completely stop all fuel from escaping. An estimated 500 to 1,000 gallons of fuel spilled onto the highway.

In response to the hazardous situation, LAFD coordinated with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to close the Northbound 110 Freeway at Manchester Avenue. They redirected traffic to ensure the safety of all motorists in the area. CalTrans was called in to assist with cleanup efforts, deploying absorbent materials to mitigate the immediate danger. LAFD firefighters, donning full personal protective equipment, helped lay down the absorbent over the spill. Firefighters then drilled four holes into the tank, giving access for a stinger to be used to safely transfer the remaining fuel to another vehicle (handled by the company owning the truck with LAFD providing oversight).

After ensuring the area was safe, firefighters assisted the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner by performing a vehicle extrication to recover the deceased driver.

The incident involved a total of 72 firefighters, alongside CHP and CalTrans personnel, all working under the command of Assistant Chief Paul Pham. Their collaborative efforts focused on safeguarding both responders and the public in the vicinity, including those on the 110 Freeway and nearby streets.

Two patients-a 45-year-old male and a 30-year-old female-were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle declined LAFD treatment and reportedly was later taken to the hospital by private vehicle.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision as cleanup efforts are completed and traffic resumes on the freeway.