AGOURA HILLS : 7 Injured in Head-On Crash at Intersection

Seven people were injured and two firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion following a head-on collision in Agoura Hills on Friday that left one woman trapped in her car for hours before rescue workers could free her.

Three girls, ages 4, 9 and 12, were among those injured in the 10:25 a.m. crash at the intersection of Kanan and Agoura roads, authorities said.

However, it was the children’s mother, Monique Schmidt, 36, of Agoura Hills, who suffered the most serious injuries after she became trapped in her car.

Rescue workers struggled for more than two hours to free Schmidt, whose foot was stuck in the frame of her red Volvo, using heavy tools to disassemble the car around her, authorities said.

She was airlifted in critical condition to a Los Angeles hospital about 12:30 p.m. with internal injuries, a fractured leg and an injured foot, said Battalion Chief Glenn Mutch of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

“This is one of the longest rescues I’ve been on,” said Donald Pratt, a paramedic who helped rescue Schmidt.

Schmidt’s daughters and three teen-age boys riding in the other car also were taken to hospitals. They were treated for minor to moderate injuries, including cuts and broken bones.

The accident apparently happened when Schmidt attempted to cross the intersection and was struck by a car driven by a 17-year-old Moorpark youth who allegedly ran a red light, sheriff’s officials said.

“He says it was a green light, but witnesses contradict his statement,” said Sgt. Mary Olson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Olson said an investigation is under way and no decision has been made on whether to charge the youth. The two other youths in his car reportedly are 16 and 17. None of the youths’ names were released because they are minors.