4 Killed as Freeway Race Leads to Fiery Accident : Tragedy: A baby is among the dead. All were occupants in a car whose driver was trying to avoid the high-speed contest between two other vehicles.

Two cars racing on the San Diego Freeway set off a fiery crash that killed four people, including a baby girl, authorities said Monday.

The baby, about 18 months old, along with two women believed to be in their 20s and a 30-year-old man, died Sunday after a speeding Toyota Camry racing a red compact car caused the Honda Accord they were riding in to overturn and explode at 10:30 p.m., CHP Officer Dwight McDonald said Monday.

The Camry, driven by a 17-year-old Los Angeles boy, reached speeds of up to 90 m.p.h. on the southbound lanes of the freeway as it raced the red car between Devonshire Street and Roscoe Boulevard, said McDonald.

As the Camry swerved in and out of the lanes, the teen-age driver lost control, hit the concrete center divider, spun out and was headed toward the Accord. The driver of the Accord swerved out of the Camry’s way but lost control, and his car crashed into the sound wall on the right side of the freeway, rolled over on its left side and slid back into the slow lane, McDonald said.

As the Accord came to rest, the fuel tank ruptured and burst into flame with the four people trapped inside. The intense heat and flames made rescue impossible, he said.

Dental records will be required to identify the bodies, which were burned beyond recognition, said Scott Carrier, a Los Angeles County coroner’s spokesman.

A BMW was also involved in the accident but swerved to avoid the flaming Honda and crashed into the sound wall too. The driver of the BMW and the teen-age driver of the Camry were not injured, McDonald said.

The Camry driver was questioned at the scene and released until further investigation can be completed, McDonald said.

The driver of the red compact car that was racing with the Camry left the crash site and is being sought on suspicion of hit-and-run driving, McDonald said.

The southbound lanes of the San Diego Freeway were blocked for over eight hours following the crash, he said.

Times staff writer Sharon Bernstein contributed to this story.

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Fatal Crash Four people were killed late Sunday on the San Diego Freeway in North Hills when their car overturned and burst into flames after they attempted to avoid an out- of- control car. *

How the Accident Happened 1. A 17- year- old male driving a gray Toyota races an unidentified red vehicle, changing lanes to pass a slower- moving vehicle. 2. Toyota returns to original lane. 3. Toyota driver loses control of car, striking center divider.

4. Toyota moves back ino traffic; a white Honda with four passengers swerves to the right to avoid being struck. 5. Honda driver loses control, striking concrete wall. Car then rolls on its side, slides along right wall and bursts into flames. Source: California Highway Patrol