Four Die in Los Angeles Freeway Collision

On Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 8:20 AM, 4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Arson Unit, 2 EMS Battalion Captains and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 30 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Daryl Arbuthnott, responded to a Multi-Fatality Traffic Collision with Fire on the westbound Santa Monica/Rosa Parks (I-10) Freeway at the Arlington Avenue overpass in Mid-City Los Angeles.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover a badly damaged mid-size sedan fully ablaze after striking a bridge support column on the right shoulder of the Interstate highway.

Despite the LAFD's quick response and fire extinguishment, four occupants of the burning vehicle proved to be beyond medical help, and were declared dead at the scene. The age and gender of the deceased could not be immediately determined.

No other injuries were reported.

Firefighters remained on-site for nearly an hour supporting the California Highway Patrol's collision investigation, and returned later in the morning to assist the Coroner's staff with the discrete and dignified removal of the deceased.

A positive identification of those who died, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of their deaths will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office.


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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department