Connecting the Los Angeles Basin to the Pomona and San Gabriel Valley, the SR-57 covers almost 26 miles and links the I-5 and SR-22 (Garden Grove Freeway) to the I-210 and SR-210. Beginning at the Orange Crush interchange, the SR-57 joins the Santa Ana Freeway on the I-5 heading north and crossing the Santa Ana River.
Covering parts of Anaheim, the SR-57 joins the Riverside Freeway and passes through Placentia and Fullerton. The prestigious California State University students use the route to get in and out of their university campus. After passing Fullerton, the SR-57 continues along the SR-90 (the Imperial Highway) with a short overlap with SR-60 as the two routes head northeast.
Then State Route-57 climbs the Brea Canyon before cascading down the hills as the highway curves north, exiting the canyon and reaching the Pomona Freeway. It then meets the San Bernardino Freeway, and as the freeway heads north, climbing the San Jose Hills, it soon sees Glendora, which ends at the junction at Glendora Curve.
Were you struck or injured due to freeway negligence on the SR-57? Our top-rated car crash lawyers offer a free consultation to help you seek financial recovery. And statistically, you may need a lawyer sooner than later. Here’s why.
According to the Orange County Register and the 2017 California Department of Transportation figures, the SR-57 is a traffic-congested route that sees average daily traffic of 278,400 at Fullerton Chapman Avenue and 279,300 at Placentia. It provides access to many different neighborhoods and courses, such as exit 13 at Diamond Bar, which lets drivers get on Brea Canyon Road.
The Federal Highway Administration states that the SR-57 is part of the larger highway systems across the United States that contribute to the country’s economy, defense, and mobility.
Historical Facts about State Route-57
State Route-57 had roots in the 1910s when, before the Brea Canyon Freeway Plan, the Brea Canyon road was just oiled dirt down to the City of Orange.
Let’s look at some of the historical facts about SR-57 to understand the importance of this route and why it got expanded over a century:
- Construction on the Orange Freeway began in 1967
- In the mid-1930s, the state government started building a bypass of the Valley Boulevard part of the SR-57 along the present freeway alignment.
- In 1957, the northern part of the SR-57 got added to the SR-240 by the metropolitan transportation engineering board.
- In 1959, the Orange Freeway North saw an extension to link the Pomona Freeway to the Temescal Freeway, completing the proposed freeway corridor.
- The Orange Freeway hub, dedicated to opening after May 1, 1972, introduced a four-level Kellogg Hill Interchange to cater to the increasing traffic. This is now recognized as a northern extension of the SR-57.
Mostly, the SR-57 is also known as the Orange Freeway, ending at the I-210 or Foothill Freeway. This stretch of road witnesses heavy daily traffic, resulting in several car accidents annually. Let’s look at some recent motor vehicle accidents on the SR-57.
- Construction accident: On October 30, 2021, a white sedan hit an arrow board near a site just south of Lincoln Avenue. The vehicle hit the board and swerved onto the freeway before coming to a halt. Emergency services found a half-wrecked sedan with a driver and passenger inside the crashed car. The team scrambled to take both people out, but the passenger died, while the driver, who was taken to a nearby hospital, died from severe injuries.
- The mess at Fullerton: On October 24, 2021, a sedan collided with an SUV, resulting in three-car accident victims at the spot of the accident. When the paramedics arrived, one of the vehicles had bounced into a tree, with the driver stuck inside the wreckage. Firefighters pronounced one of the victims died on the accident site while the other two were immediately rushed to the hospital.
Orange County Sees a Spike in E-bike Accidents
The SR-57 provides routes across Orange County, a county recently known for a spike in E-bike accidents. The recent COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to a new hobby in Orange County: riding E-bikes on the road and deadly bicycle lanes.
Many parents often fail to realize how dangerous riding an E-bike on the road during traffic hours is, which has caused a rise in the number of E-bike accidents in Orange County. According to recent reports, E-bike accidents have increased by 500% since last year, making them one of the most dangerous “electric motors” on the road.
Injuries sustained from riding E-bikes are more on par with motorcycle accident statistics. Despite this, most people riding bikes do not wear proper safety equipment or follow traffic rules. There have been many E-bike accidents across Orange County recently, with victims hospitalized at the nearby Orange County Hospital, north of Hermosa Beach.
With teens and adults riding E-bikes on major roads, these vehicles pose a danger to the riders and other drivers traveling on the SR-57.
Ehline Law Car Accident Attorneys Know the Law
Accidents on the SR-57 have serious consequences, whether with a car or an E-bike and hiring a qualified personal injury attorney can get you the desired results. The confusing world of insurance and how insurance companies deal with injured victims can add to the stress, and having our qualified attorneys on your side can help you navigate this chaos.
Handling a car accident claim alone is only advisable if the other party concedes to their fault and you only suffer minor injuries. However, Interstate Highway System car accidents cause severe damage to survivors, and a knowledgeable lawyer can protect your rights.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a 57 Freeway Crash Lawyer Today
Our attorneys will advise you on your case, California law, and how to move forward. We work on a contingency fee basis, a great incentive for our lawyers to win the case and for our clients to get the best legal representation without worrying about legal fees. Having a lawyer by your side gives injured victims the reassurance they need to get their life back on track. If you become a car accident statistic in Los Angeles, and it was not your fault, contact us at (213) 596-9642 and get a free consultation on your personal injury case today!
Other California Freeway and Interstate Accidents
