Five-car crash kills man on 405

A fatal five-car crash early Friday on the 405 Freeway in Huntington Beach south of the Edinger Avenue exit killed an 18-year-old man and injured at least two more, closing all southbound lanes for over an hour, authorities said.

Five ambulances, three medic engines and one fire engine responded to the scene, Huntington Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Rick Grunbaum said. Three victims were rushed to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, and one was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange.

The crash was reported at 3:17 a.m., according the California Highway Patrol. Highway Patrol logs indicate that all lanes were closed until 4:41 a.m., when one lane opened. The rest reopened at 5:09 a.m.

A man from Chico was driving a 2000 Ford Ranger faster than the 65-mph speed limit when he lost control and hit the center divider, according to the CHP. The crash ejected him from the car onto the asphalt, causing fatal injuries. The Orange County Coroner’s office has confirmed that David Fergus of Chico was pronounced dead at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana.

Two vehicles hit the disabled Ranger, according to a CHP news release.

Other accidents, as well as the sequence of events, are still under investigation, CHP Officer Denise Quesada said. People involved in the accident or related crashes include a passenger from Chico in the first vehicle, as well as two drivers from Irvine, one from Long Beach and one from Santa Ana, according to the CHP.