Crime & Safety
Search On For Wrong-Way Freeway Driver Seen Inhaling Nitrous From Ballon
A driver was spotted inhaling nitrous oxide from a ballon while driving the wrong way on a freeway Thursday morning.
Multiple 911 callers reported a motorist driving the wrong way on the 5 Freeway Thursday morning while huffing nitros oxide from a balloon, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP received the reports before 11 a.m. about the motorist, who was slowly driving a gold Chevrolet sedan northbound on the southbound side of the 5 Freeway at the Penrose Street offramp in Sun Valley.
Additional callers reported the driver as he headed north — near Lankershim Boulevard and the 118 Freeway, a CHP spokesperson told Patch.
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Officers from the Newhall Division, in the Santa Clarita area, searched the area for the driver, but did not find him. No crashes were reported in connection to the incident, according to the CHP.
Nitrous oxide, commonly used in dental procedures as "laughing gas," is also used recreationally for its dissociative effects. It's sometimes referred to as "whippets."
Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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