A Chevy pickup carrying two construction workers veered off the south 605 Freeway on Sunday evening, hitting a tree and catching fire, killing one person and critically injuring another, officials said.
The accident occurred about 6 p.m. near the Katella/Willow off-ramp, according to the California Highway Patrol.
One of the truck's occupants was pronounced dead at the scene; the other was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, according to Capt. Marc Stone of the Orange County Fire Authority. Both had to be cut out of the truck.
A SigAlert was issued a few minutes later and hazmat crews were called to investigate a lead vault labeled radioactive, Stone said. However, the container was later deemed safe, Stone said.
