03.06.2025 | 1:12 AM | SANTA ANA – A driver had to be freed from their vehicle after slamming into a big rig that was stopped in a freeway closure, early Thursday morning.
The collision occurred around 1:12 AM when a black Kia sedan slammed into a tractor trailer on the southbound I-5 Freeway just north of Fourth Street.
When authorities arrived they found the Kia lodged underneath the big rig’s trailer with its driver and solo occupant trapped in the wreckage.
Firefighters employed various heavy rescue tools including the Jaws of Life to cut apart the Kia before freeing its driver in an operation that lasted around 30 minutes.
Medics rushed the driver to OC Global Medical Center with serious injuries.
The driver of the big rig was unharmed and reported he was stopped in traffic due to freeway closure caused by another traffic collision involving a different big rig.
It was unclear if drugs or alcohol might have contributed to the collision and authorities are continuing to investigate.
All southbound lanes of the I-5 Freeway were stopped south of Grand Avenue for about 2 hours while crews attended to the scene.
