LOS ANGELES - One person is in critical condition after a high speed race ended in a fiery crash early Sunday morning in Boyle Heights.
Officials say the drivers of two cars were racing on the Pomona freeway when one of them lost control and slammed into an SUV and then crashed into five other cars, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Battalion Chief M. Brookhyser of the L.A. County Fire Department confirmed two cousins were racing in two different cars on the westbound 60 Freeway when they lost control and crashed into each other just before 4 a.m. Both of their cars spun out in lanes and caught fire. Three of the other five cars of innocent drivers were destroyed.
The driver in one racing vehicle was trapped and unable to get out with his car burning around him. Witnesses at the scene said Good Samaritans rushed to the trapped victim and extinguished the blaze with a fire extinguisher. However, the helpful bystanders were unable to free the trapped victim suffering from critical injuries. Robert Ramirez, who witnesses the accident, said "The car was on fire and the other car hit him. Some guy pulled over and he had a fire extinguisher and put out the fire with the victim in there."
Fire personnel rushed to the scene, cut the door and roof off the vehicle and transported him in critical condition to a nearby hospital. The other driver suffered injuries and was treated at the scene. CHP officers investigated the details and may arrest one or both drivers pending the outcome of their investigation. |
