SANTA ANA — A man was critically injured early Tuesday, Nov. 21, when he was struck by his own vehicle following a four-car collision, authorities said.

The collision was reported around 1:55 a.m. on the southbound 5 freeway near the Main Street exit, California Highway Patrol Officer CHP Officer Florentino Olivera said.

A Toyota Tundra was traveling south when it was rear ended by a Toyota Camry, Olivera said.

The collision pushed the Tundra into another lane where it was struck by a BMW that was unable to stop in time. A man driving the BMW got out of his car to check on a person inside the Tundra when a Nissan swerved to avoid the crash, Olivera said.

The Nissan slammed into the BMW and pushed it into the car’s driver, he said.

The driver of the BMW was taken by ambulance to an area hospital with what were described as major injuries.

His name was not released. Traffic lanes in the vicinity of the crash were closed for several hours.

No citations have been issued and the crash remains under investigation.

If a motorist is blocking a lane of traffic following a crash and their car can not be driven safely to the shoulder, they should remain inside with their seatbelts buckled until a CHP officer arrives, Olivera said. It isn’t safe to get out of a vehicle following a freeway crash.

“You don’t want to be walking in lanes on the freeway,” he said. “Cars are traveling at a high rate of speed. You are exposing yourself to danger and your chances increase of being hit a by a car.”

Cars that are drivable after a collision should be moved to the right shoulder or another safe location.