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A minivan burned on the side of Interstate 5, near the community of Gorman in Tejon Pass, about 65 miles north of downtown Los Angeles today. A fiery minivan wreck killed two mothers and their four children on a highway in northern Los Angeles County. The minivan got in a minor collision and stopped on the shoulder. It was still partially in a lane when a semitrailer hit it and it burst into flames with the women and children inside. (KABC-7 via AP)
GORMAN, Calif. » A fiery minivan wreck in northern Los Angeles County killed two mothers and their four children early today, while the two hysterical fathers of the families were held back from the flames.
The minivan was partially in the right-hand lane after a minor wreck on Interstate 5 near the community of Gorman, about 65 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. A semi-truck going about 55 mph slammed into the van from behind, sending it off the road and down an embankment, where it quickly caught fire, CHP Officer Frank Romero said.
The two fathers, who were in the driver’s and passenger seats at the time of the crash, suffered burns trying to save their wives and four children, Romero said.
They were identified as 34-year-old Aaron Hon Wing Ng of San Francisco and 45-year-old Wei Xiong Li of Daly City. The names and ages of their wives and children weren’t released.
The semi driver and two CHP officers who already had been on their way to the scene also scrambled to help save the families. The officers were singed on their arms and heads, according to CHP.
The fire was burning far too fast and hot for fire extinguishers or life-saving efforts to work, Romero said.
The CHP officers had to hold Li and Ng back from the van, he said.
“It’s absolutely horrible,” Romero said. “I can’t imagine.”
CHP Officer Dan Williams, who held the fathers back with his partner, told reporters at the scene that they arrived to see the van catch fire.
He said his partner tried to get through a door, but “the flames came at him, he had to back out.”
“Words can’t describe it,” Williams said. “It was very horrific seeing them try to get their families out, us trying to help get their families out.”
His partner, Jeff Burdick, said it was hard to pull Li and Ng away from the fire.
“We just held them,” Burdick said. “That’s all we could do.”
Li and Ng were flown to a hospital and were being treated for moderate injuries. The accident was under investigation.
the way Hawaii DOT is taking all the shoulders away from us on our freeways sooner or later this WILL happen on our roads! hopefully it is later rather than sooner…. condolences to the Li and Ng families.
Heartfelt condolences to the Li and Ng families. No words can express how deeply sorry we feel of your losses! God bless.
How terribly sad. My heartfelt condolences to both families.
So sad, condolences to the fathers.
Yes, it is very dangerous when one has to pullover on the shoulder lane of a freeway.
When a mechanical breakdown happens, get everyone out of the vehicle. If their is a hill get up as high as possible, if there is a concrete barrier or a guard rail get behind that as far away from the vehicle as possible. If no such options available find a safe way to walk off the freeway or get to the front side of the vehicle far enough away from the vehicle where hopefully it acts as a shield that will not be able to hit you, should another vehicle ram into it. If you have safety reflectors, flares be sure to use them. Call for a tow immediately.
If you have a flat tire continue to drive off to the next exit and find a safe place to change your tire. So what if the rim is damage, a very inexpensive alternative that may save your lives or avoid serious injuries.