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3 people injured in big-rig crash on 210 Freeway; SigAlert issued

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Three people were hurt Monday afternoon when a big rig crashed into the center divider of the westbound 210 Freeway and jumped up onto a railway line, prompting the closure of three lanes in Pasadena.

The big rig driver suffered minor injuries, but the driver of a sedan, which was crushed in the crash, sustained injuries described as “serious to moderate,” Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. The third driver crashed on the opposite side of the freeway.

All three patients were taken to area hospitals and are expected to survive, she said.

“It’s very lucky everyone survived,” Derderian said.

The crash, she said, could have been a lot worse if it had occurred on the Gold Line commuter railway. The crash occurred near the Sierra Madre Villa station but did not involve the commuter line itself, but firefighters had to de-energize the rail lines to work on the crash site.

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The crash occurred at Rosemead Boulevard about 2:40 p.m., prompting lanes closures and the issuance of a SigAlert. The closure will remain in effect until 9 p.m., California Highway Patrol officials said.

Aerial television news footage showed that wreckage had spilled onto the rail tracks, but Metro officials said the area was under construction for the future Gold Line extension and would not affect commuters.

Two feeder boxes that contained train controls were damaged and diesel fuel spilled onto the tracks, said Albert Ho, spokesman of the Foothill Gold Line Extension Authority.

Although no significant structural damage was reported to the construction project, engineers and contractors were still assessing the scene, he said.

CHP officials advised drivers to use alternate routes to avoid the backup.

They suggested using the southbound Interstate 605 to the westbound Interstate 10 to the northbound Interstate 5 to the northbound 2 Freeway to return to the 210.

For breaking news in Los Angeles and throughout California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA. She may be reached at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.

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