AUTHORITIES SEEK TRUCK AFTER CRASH INJURES 5.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Daily News Staff Writer

Five people were injured Thursday in a hit-and-run crash involving a big rig and three cars that forced closure of the northbound Hollywood Freeway in the Cahuenga Pass during the morning commute.

The crash occurred about 6:30 a.m. in lanes south of Lankershim Boulevard, said California Highway Patrol Officer Dan Canalia.

With all northbound lanes closed for 45 minutes, traffic backed up to downtown and spilled onto side streets. Gawkers slowed southbound traffic to a crawl as far west as Sepulveda Boulevard. Two northbound lanes were reopened for two hours before the crash was cleared and all lanes were reopened, he said.

Investigators said the crash probably was caused by a truck that drove away from the scene. It left behind three damaged passenger cars, two of them overturned, Canalia said. He would not describe how the truck started the collision.

Five commuters were taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, he said. Injuries were minor.

According to Canalia, investigators had little to go on in their search for the truck. It was said to have a white trailer, but it is not known whether anyone took down the license plate, he said.

The crash is being investigated as felony hit-and-run.