At least one driver has been confirmed dead in Los Angeles County early Friday after his vehicle hydroplaned and crashed before submerging in water, as heavy rainfall has continued to batter parts of Southern California.
According to reports, the death occurred in the city of Carson as an atmospheric river delivered heavy rains and coastal flooding to portions of Southern California after wreaking havoc on some roadways. The crash happened around 3:40 a.m. as the driver was heading south on Avalon Boulevard, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Roberto Catalan told CNN.
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An investigation revealed that the driver, described only as a man in his 30s, was driving around 70 to 75 mph when his vehicle hydroplaned, crashed into a concrete center divider before it submerged in the Dominguez Channel, Catalan said.
The storm system is reported to have drenched parts of coastal Southern California with 1 to 5 inches of rain from early Wednesday to late Thursday, with some areas seeing more than 6 inches of rainfall. The deluge led to knee-deep floodwaters in some areas, road closures and an evacuation warning for communities in Ventura County just days before the holiday weekend.
And while Thursday brought the atmospheric river’s worst impacts, heavy rain Friday is a threat for California and the Southwest. A slight risk for excessive rainfall – Level 2 of 4 – is in effect Friday for parts of Southern California, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
As the atmospheric river continues to move east Friday, parts of southern Arizona are also under the same level of rainfall threat. Up to 2 inches of rain are possible.
Story was adapted from CNN.
