At least four people have been killed by the strong Pacific storm pounding California.
Two individual were killed in a pair of fatal accidents on Interstate 15 on Friday evening. In one incident, a car hydroplaned across Interstate 15 north near Mira Mesa Boulevard, striking multiple vehicles. One person died and three were injured, according to the California Highway Patrol. In a separate two-car accident on the rain-slicked Interstate 15 north of Interstate 805, another individual was killed, according to NBC San Diego and Fox 5. The victim died at the scene.
Mid-Friday evening, a sinkhole opened up near Studio City, California and two cars were swallowed up, but only one injury was reported. In addition, another sinkhole opened up on Interstate 15 on the southbound side, catching a fire truck on its edge. The fire truck eventually fell into the sinkhole, but no injuries were reported.
Friday evening multiple vehicles were swept away from a road in San Bernardino County. A helicopter rescued one person from the roof of a car, according to the Associated Press. A rescue group was able to reach a submerged vehicle at Doris Davies Park in Victorville where one individual was found dead, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
A falling pine tree downed power lines, which hit a car in Sherman Oaks on Friday around noon, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department and the AP. A 55-year-old man was electrocuted shortly after when he stepped in a puddle of charged water. He was transported to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Reports of mudslides and power outages were widespread along the California coast, where inches of rain have caused major travel problems.
Eight people had to be rescued when 10 cars were stuck in swift-moving water in LA's Sun Valley, according to AP. Seven people and two dogs were rescued from the Sepulveda basin along the Los Angeles River by firefighters with inflatable boats and ropes.
Four people were injured in Salinas' Chinatown Friday afternoon after strong winds brought down a tree, KION-TV reported. The extent of those injuries was not immediately known. In Los Angeles, 16 college students were evacuated from an apartment complex near UCLA after a large tree fell on the building. No one was injured in the incident, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Mudslides became a major concern Friday afternoon, and along U.S. Route 101, one such slide closed the northbound lanes of the mud-covered freeway north of Ventura, according to the California Highway Patrol. Another mudslide closed Highway 154 at Painted Cave and Gibraltar.
A 20-mile stretch of State Route 138 in the West Cajon Valley was closed, according to the AP. Around two dozen vehicles, including big-rigs and a school bus, were soiled by mud or unable to turn around. Some vehicles were abandoned.
In Lebec, a rockslide forced the closure of northbound I-5 lanes.
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