California IN BRIEF : BAKERSFIELD : 7 Killed, 3 Injured in 8-Vehicle Crash

A fiery multi-vehicle crash killed at least seven motorists and injured three others on California 99, authorities said. The 4 p.m. crash involved eight vehicles near Houghton Road about eight miles south of Bakersfield, California Highway Patrol Officer Rick Mikkelson said. The cause of the collision--involving two big rigs, three pickups, one van and two other vehicles--was not known, but it caused a fire and a couple of explosions, Kern County Fire Capt. Mike Cody said. Seven motorists died at the scene and three others were treated at the scene for minor injuries, Cody said. CHP spokesman Dan Miller said that there may be two more victims in the wreckage. The crash blocked the highway, backing up northbound traffic for miles.