Huntington Beach 19-year-old killed when his Honda rear-ends big rig on 5 Freeway

WESTMINSTER — A motorist was killed Thursday when his car rear-ended a big rig that was slowing for traffic on the northbound 405 Freeway in Westminster, authorities said.

The crash occurred about 12:40 a.m. north of Golden West Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The 19-year-old Huntington Beach man died at a hospital, the CHP reported. His name was withheld, pending notification of his relatives.

According to the preliminary investigation, the young man was driving a 2017 Honda Accord at an unknown speed in the No. 3 lane, and a 1998 Kenworth big rig was going about 5 mph in the same lane ahead of his car, the CHP reported.

“For an unknown reason, the Honda collided with the rear of the semi-truck trailer,” the CHP reported. “As a result of the collision, the driver of the Honda sustained major injuries.”

The 31-year-old Pomona man driving the truck was unhurt. The CHP closed all northbound lanes except the carpool lane temporarily while an investigation was conducted.