Passers-By Pull Woman From Burning Vehicle

The California Highway Patrol on Friday credited several passers-by with saving the life of a woman whose car rear-ended a truck and was engulfed in flames on the Golden State Freeway near Castaic.

The passers-by left their cars on the freeway and quickly pulled Lisa Webb from her burning Volkswagen “beetle” after the 8:30 p.m. accident Thursday. CHP Officer A.J. Torres said Webb, 27, of Bakersfield suffered second- and third-degree burns over 30% of her body and was in serious condition Friday at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia.

Torres said Webb is being investigated for driving drunk but had not been arrested because of her injuries.

Webb was driving south at a high rate of speed on the freeway’s downslope near Castaic when she passed a slow-moving car and crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer going about 40 m.p.h., Torres said.

The Volkswagen became caught under the rear of the trailer and was dragged 900 feet until the truck driver, Kenneth Angel, 28, of Whittier could pull to the shoulder. Angel was not injured.

“The dragging caused sparks which caught the Volkswagen on fire,” Torres said.

At least four passers-by ran to the burning car, authorities said. They were identified at the scene as Rick Howton of Santee and Christopher Margulas, Lisa Davis and Anthony Dohrman, all of Woodland Hills.

“Passers-by saw what happened, stopped and pulled her out of the burning vehicle,” Torres said. “Judging by the injuries she had, they probably saved her.”

Webb was flown by helicopter to the hospital. None of her rescuers were injured, the CHP said.