Crashes kill three in southern L.A. County

Three people were killed in unrelated traffic accidents Saturday on freeways in southern Los Angeles County, authorities said.

A man walked onto the 91 Freeway near Avalon Boulevard in Carson around 7:16 p.m. Saturday and was struck and killed by a vehicle, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Elizabeth Kravig.

Investigators are trying to determine why the man was on the highway. The Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert and closed four of five lanes of traffic Saturday evening.

Earlier in the day, authorities reported two fatal crashes on the same stretch of northbound 605 Freeway in Long Beach within minutes of each other.

The first occurred at 1:06 a.m. on the 605 Freeway south of Carson Street when the driver of a Honda Civic struck the center divider, killing a female passenger, according to collision report from the Highway Patrol.

The 35-year-old victim, of Norwalk, was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles County paramedics. The 21-year-old driver of Honda suffered minor injuries. Authorities said they were investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the collision.

The second incident occurred in the same area of the 605 at 1:13 a.m. when a 35-year-old driver left his disabled vehicle in the HOV lane and was struck by a Volkswagen traveling northbound on the freeway. The man, who lived in Huntington Beach, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Highway Patrol.

The driver of the Volkswagen suffered major injuries and was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital for treatment. A 24-year-old passenger suffered minor injuries.

ben.poston@latimes.com

Follow @bposton on Twitter.

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