Floods Cause Chaos On Orange County Roadways Tuesday

LAKE FOREST, CA — Multiple crashes clogged roadways after heavy downpours descended over Orange County overnight.

Rainfall, thunderstorms and harsh winds ran in the first day of spring throughout Orange County Tuesday with more wintry weather on the way, the National Weather Service said.

Multiple crashes slowed traffic to a near crawl across Orange County, with California Highway Patrol and Caltrans reporting several injury crashes on the 5, 73, 91 and the 57 Freeways.

Travelers on the I-5 south near Alton Parkway in Irvine were stuck in traffic due to a vehicle overturning in a freeway embankment at around 8:30 a.m. this morning, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The crash prompted officials to close one lane of the freeway Tuesday morning.

In Santa Ana, the northbound 5 Freeway off ramp to Main Street/Broadway was also blocked by flooding.

In Anaheim, another car ended up in an embankment and stuck in mud on the California State route 91 freeway traveling east near Imperial Highway.

By 10 a.m., CHP crews were still working to get the vehicle out of the mud. At least one person was injured.

Also in Anaheim, weather-drenched roads resulted in at least one spinout on the California State route 57 north traveling near Katella Avenue.

In Dana Point, Pacific Coast Highway was closed again in both directions starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday morning between Palisades and Camino Capistrano, the city said.

The roadway will be closed until further notice while crews clear debris from the street.

Pacific Coast Highway was also closed both directions between Warner Avenue and Seapoint Street due to flooding in Huntington Beach, Caltrans reported.