Man arrested after suspected DUI crash injures two CHP officers and another driver on 405 in Fountain Valley

A man suspected of triggering a chain-reaction crash that injured two California Highway Patrol officers and another motorist on the 405 Freeway in Fountain Valley early Friday has been arrested on allegations of driving under the influence, according to the CHP.

The crash prompted the closure of all southbound lanes of the freeway between Warner Avenue and Brookhurst Street for several hours, backing traffic up for miles and flooding nearby surface streets with commuters looking for alternate routes.

A truck and a Toyota Prius were traveling south on the freeway shortly before 3 a.m. when they were approached from behind by a speeding Chrysler, CHP Officer Duane Graham said.

The Chrysler crashed into both vehicles, causing the Prius to veer left and crash into a marked CHP patrol vehicle that was stopped with its hazard lights on near Bushard Street, Graham said.

One officer suffered major injuries and another suffered moderate injuries, according to Graham. Authorities had previously described the officers’ injuries as non-life-threatening.

The woman driving the Prius was taken to a hospital with unknown injuries, according to the CHP.

The Chrysler’s driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, Graham said. Authorities identified him only as a 19-year-old Clovis resident.

All of the freeway’s southbound lanes were closed between Warner and Brookhurst until officers opened two lanes at about 7 a.m. At the time of the crash, two southbound lanes were already closed for construction.

As of 10 a.m., the southbound carpool and No. 2 lanes were still closed for investigation, Graham said. Authorities anticipate those closures will remain in place until at least noon.

Paramedics treated the driver of the patrol car and placed him on a gurney. Another officer who was bleeding from the side of his head was evaluated by paramedics outside the vehicle and also placed on a gurney.

The carpool lane of the northbound 405 also was closed shortly before 7 a.m. after a second crash involving four vehicles, the CHP said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether anyone was injured in that crash.

Los Angeles Times staff writer Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Daily Pilot staff contributed to this report.

This article was originally published at 7:26 a.m. and has been updated with additional information.

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