It happened fast.
Before the sun even started to peek over the Los Angeles skyline this morning, Friday, January 16, 2026, the intersection of two of the city’s most famous concrete arteries became a crime scene. A pedestrian was found dead. They were discovered right at the connector of the northbound Harbor (110) Freeway and the westbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway.
The California Highway Patrol got the call around 2:57 a.m. When Officer J.R. Hernandez and the rest of the crew arrived, it wasn't a "typical" fender bender. It was a fatality. Dealing with a freeway 110 accident today usually means sitting in your car for twenty minutes while someone clears a bumper off the road, but this was much heavier. The transition from the 110 to the 10 is a high-speed, concrete maze even in the middle of the night.
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Honestly, it’s one of those spots where if you aren't paying attention for even a second, things go sideways.
The Chaos on the Northbound 110
The morning commute was, predictably, a total nightmare. While the investigation into the pedestrian death was happening at the 110/10 interchange, another incident popped up further north. Around 8:23 a.m., CHP logs showed a separate traffic collision—fortunately with no injuries—on the NB 110 just south of Vernon Avenue.
You've got a fatality investigation at the downtown hub and then a multi-car scrape just a few miles away. It’s like the freeway was cursed this morning.
Traffic basically turned into a parking lot. If you were trying to get from South LA into the Downtown core, you were better off taking Figueroa or Broadway, though everyone else had the same idea, so those surface streets were jammed too.
Why the Harbor Freeway is So Dangerous
We talk about the 110 like it’s just one road, but it’s really two different worlds. South of the 10, it's the wide-open Harbor Freeway with those massive carpool flyovers. North of downtown, it turns into the Arroyo Seco Parkway, which is basically a 1940s bobsled run made of asphalt.
What the Data Tells Us
- Pedestrian Danger: It sounds crazy, but people ending up on the freeway is a recurring nightmare in LA. Today’s fatality at the 110/10 connector is part of a spike in "pedestrian on freeway" incidents that the CHP has been tracking since late 2025.
- The Connector Problem: The transition lanes between the 110 and the 10 involve sharp merges and varying elevations. Drivers are often looking at their GPS or trying to cross three lanes of traffic in a few hundred yards.
- Nighttime Visibility: At 3:00 a.m., even with the high-mast lighting downtown, shadows at the freeway junctions are deep.
A lot of people think freeway accidents are mostly about speeding. Kinda. But it's also about the infrastructure. These roads weren't designed for the volume or the speed of modern EVs and heavy SUVs. When you have a pedestrian in a lane where drivers expect to be going 65 mph, there is zero room for error.
Recent Incidents and the "Guy Moon" Effect
It’s been a rough week for Los Angeles roads. Just a couple of days ago, the local community was hit hard by the news that Guy Moon, the Emmy-nominated composer behind a lot of classic Nickelodeon music, died following a crash in LA County.
When a name like that pops up in the news, people start paying more attention to the daily "sigalerts." But the reality is that the freeway 110 accident today is just the latest in a relentless string of incidents. Just look at the logs from this morning:
- A hit-and-run in West LA.
- A vehicle fire near the 101 and Melrose.
- The pedestrian fatality at the 110/10 interchange.
It’s a lot to take in.
Navigating the 110 Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re a regular on the Harbor Freeway, you basically have to be an amateur strategist.
The Sigalert from this morning’s pedestrian investigation lasted for hours because the CHP has to treat the area as a crime scene. They have to measure skid marks, check for debris, and wait for the Medical Examiner to arrive. It’s not a quick process.
Most people get frustrated and start "lane hopping." Don't do that. Honestly, the safest thing you can do when you see those brake lights is to just pick a lane and stay there. Most of the secondary accidents—like the one at Vernon Ave today—happen because people are distracted by the first accident or they're trying to weave through the backup.
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Quick Tips for LA Drivers:
- Check QuickMap: The Caltrans QuickMap app is way more accurate than Google Maps for actual CHP incident logs.
- Avoid the "Connector" Stress: If you know the 110/10 interchange is backed up, jump off at 2nd Street or 6th Street and navigate through DTLA. It’s slow, but you’re moving.
- Dash Cams: If you're involved in a scrape, having that footage is the only way to deal with insurance companies these days. They’ve become incredibly stingy.
The Road Forward
The investigation into the person found at the 110 and 10 interchange is still active. CHP hasn't released the name of the victim yet, as they're likely still trying to notify next of kin. It's a grim reminder that these freeways aren't just lines on a map; they're places where lives change in a heartbeat.
If you were a witness to anything near the 110/10 connector around 3:00 a.m. this morning, the CHP Central Los Angeles office is definitely going to want to hear from you. Sometimes a piece of dashcam footage from a passing Uber is the only thing that solves these cases.
For now, the lanes are mostly open again, but the ripples of this morning's events are going to be felt through the evening rush. Stay sharp out there.
Next Steps for Drivers Involved in Freeway Incidents:
If you were caught in the congestion and had a minor incident, or if you ever find yourself in a similar situation on the 110:
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- Request the Report: Contact the CHP Central Los Angeles Area office to request a Traffic Collision Report (Form 555). You’ll need this for any insurance claim.
- Document Everything: If you can safely do so, take photos of the road conditions and any signage that might have been obscured.
- Check for Recalls: Sometimes these multi-car pileups on the 110 are exacerbated by mechanical failure; ensure your vehicle doesn't have an active braking or steering recall.
Stay safe. The 110 is a beast, but you've got to respect it to survive it.