The first substantial storm of the fall drenched much of the Southland Tuesday, dropping as much as 5 inches of rain in select areas and prompting evacuation orders and warnings, but the region appeared to dodge any damaging mud or debris flows.

One person was found dead in the rain-swollen Santa Ana River near MacArthur Boulevard in the Fountain Valley area of Orange County around midday Tuesday, but the circumstances of the fatality were not immediately known.

The rain began falling in Los Angeles County during the overnight hours, making for a wet morning commute and leading to widespread reports of vehicles spinning out and several trucks overturning.

The northbound Golden State (5) Freeway in the Sun Valley area flooded late Tuesday morning, forcing a temporary closure of all lanes

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