Fatal Pedestrian Crash Shuts Southbound 405 Freeway Sepulveda Pass

A fatal pedestrian crash occurred on the southbound 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass Monday afternoon, involving a person who was standing outside a stopped vehicle on the freeway shoulder. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by a flatbed tow truck. The tow truck driver was administered a field sobriety test and subsequently taken into custody. The crash led to the closure of multiple southbound lanes, excluding the carpool lane, causing significant traffic backups extending to the 101 interchange in the San Fernando Valley. Authorities have advised drivers to avoid the area as investigations continue. Details about the victim's identity and the exact cause of the crash remain under investigation.