1 Killed, 10 Injured as Van, Car Crash Head-On in Wilmington

One person was killed and 10 injured, five critically, in a head-on collision between a commuter van packed with people and a car driven by a suspected drunk driver Monday night in the Wilmington area, authorities said.

The accident occurred about 8:30 p.m. when a Cadillac collided with a van carrying 10 young adults in the 1600 block of North Alameda Street, Los Angeles City Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells said.

Five ambulances and five fire engines were sent to the scene.

Witnesses said firefighters had to peel the roof off the van with the “jaws of life” hydraulic device to pull the driver out.

“I’ve been through Vietnam and I saw some plane crashes, but none of them were like this,” said Homer Hogue, 47, a truck driver who witnessed the crash.

Fire officials said it appeared that the driver of the Cadillac was trying to pass a slow-moving tanker truck and hit the van head-on. Two of the injured were ejected from the van.

One person was pronounced dead by paramedics, officials said. The others were taken to local hospitals.

Names of the victims were not released.

The driver of the van was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, police said.