Runaway Trailer Crashes Into Car, Kills 2 on Freeway

A trailer broke loose from a truck, crossed the center divider of the Simi Valley Freeway and plowed head-on into a car on Friday, killing the car’s driver and a 10-year-old boy and injuring two other boys in a fiery crash, authorities said.

Traffic was backed up for miles after authorities closed all freeway lanes in both directions.

Another man suffered minor injuries when he swerved to avoid the trailer and his car went over the side of the freeway, officials said.

The victims’ names were not immediately available. The four occupants of the first car, a Cadillac, were believed to be members of the same family, authorities said.

The 10-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred about 3:20 p.m. on the eastbound side of the Simi Valley Freeway near the Erringer Road off-ramp, Simi Valley Police Lt. Bob Robbins said. The male driver died on arrival at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital, a nursing supervisor said.

One of the boys, about 8 years old, was in extremely critical condition at the hospital Friday evening, the nursing supervisor said. The fourth boy, thought to be about 15, was in serious condition, she said.

The driver of the Toyota truck that was towing the trailer, loaded with couches, chairs and other heavy objects, was not injured, Robbins said.