Fatal crash snarls southbound 605 Freeway in Whittier

Traffic was snarled on the southbound 605 Freeway in Whittier early Thursday after a chain-reaction crash that left two people dead.

The accident occurred about 2:30 a.m. when a southbound motorist in the carpool lane crashed into the center divider near Beverly Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver left the disabled vehicle and walked off the freeway, the CHP said.

Four other cars were then involved in accidents. Some apparently hit the disabled car, and others then hit those vehicles, officials said.

Two people, a 60-year-old male and a 40-year-old male, were killed, authorities said. Their names have not been released.

All southbound lanes of the freeway were closed for several hours, and traffic was being taken off at Beverly Boulevard, officials said.

The carpool lane and the three left lanes were opened by 5:30 a.m. The far-right lane and the offramp remained closed.

ALSO:

Petraeus apology for affair doesn’t go far enough

String of earthquakes strikes California desert area

Supreme Court likely to strike down DOMA marriage law, experts say