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Woman Burns to Death When Car Is Rear-Ended : Tragedy: The driver of the second car allegedly was drunk and traveling at an estimated 80 m.p.h. The victim’s vehicle burst into flames on impact and she was trapped inside.

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From United Press International

A motorist rear-ended by a speeding driver who allegedly was drunk was killed when her car burst into flames early Thursday in Hawthorne, authorities said.

The victim, a 52-year-old resident of Los Angeles, was dead at the scene. She was badly burned, and coroner’s officials were seeking dental records to identify her.

The woman was headed west on El Segundo Boulevard about 5:15 a.m. when she slowed for a red light at Prairie Avenue. Her car was struck from behind by a speeding vehicle, Hawthorne Firefighter Jason Adams said.

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The woman’s car exploded on impact, creating a gas spill that created an 80-foot trail of fire. Two more explosions followed, and the woman was trapped in her car.

Witnesses said she was screaming as her car burned.

“She couldn’t get out,” Adams said.

Firefighters estimated that the fire reached temperatures of 1,800 degrees before it was put out.

Two people in the second car were trapped, but firefighters were able to cut them free using the “Jaws of Life.”

The driver, Juan Camacho, 29, of Morgan Hill, was taken to Harbor- UCLA Medical Center with critical and paralyzing injuries. He was expected to be booked on suspicion of murder and driving under the influence of alcohol.

His passenger, Hector Camacho, 30, of San Diego, was not seriously injured.

Adams said Juan Camacho was driving at an estimated 80 m.p.h. at the time of the crash and there were no skid marks.

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