Girl Dies, 7 Are Injured in 3-Vehicle Accident

A 13-year-old girl died and seven other people, including four children, were injured Tuesday night in a three-vehicle crash on the Long Beach Freeway in Compton.

The youngsters were taken for treatment to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, said county Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Steve Riddell. Two girls, ages 2 and 12, suffered head, chest and abdomen injuries and were in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said. Two other girls, ages 3 and 11, were in critical condition at St. Mary Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said. The 11-year-old suffered two broken legs and the 3-year-old suffered head and chest injuries, she said.

California Highway Patrol Officer Richard Perez said witnesses reported that people were thrown from the vehicles in the 8:50 p.m. crash in the northbound lanes north of Alondra Boulevard.