Four killed in fiery car crash into flood channel in San Bernardino
Four female occupants of a car were killed after the driver lost control on a San Bernardino road Thursday night and plunged into a flood control channel, authorities said.
The crash occurred after the car spun out and went through a rail, causing two of the occupants to be ejected while the vehicle plunged into the flood channel, burst into flames and burned the other two “beyond recognition,” according to the California Highway Patrol.
Earlier reports had put the number of dead at three.
The wreck occurred at about 8:30 p.m. when the 1997 Toyota Camry was traveling westbound on 5th Street near Cooley Street “passing traffic at a reported high speed” before losing control, the CHP said.
The car rotated across the eastbound lanes before striking the rail at the corner of a bridge. The force was enough to push the vehicle over the side.
Authorities said the driver and right rear passenger were ejected from the car. The other two passengers were in the car when it plunged 20 feet into the flood channel.
“After coming to rest in the flood channel, the Toyota was engulfed by flames ... burning them beyond recognition,” the CHP said Friday morning.
The victims were not immediately identified.
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