3 Die When Truck Crushes Car on Freeway

Two adults and an infant were killed Saturday when their car was crushed between two large trucks in a fiery crash on the Long Beach Freeway in Bell.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver who triggered the accident sped away and was being sought by authorities.

The unidentified victims were burned to death in a car that was crushed between a gravel truck and a Ralphs grocery tractor-trailer, said CHP Officer Rhett Price.

As of 8:40 p.m., the bodies had been taken to the coroner’s office, but an investigator said: “We have no idea who they are.”

The crash occurred about 1 p.m. in the southbound lanes of Long Beach Freeway north of Florence Avenue, and it backed up traffic for miles in both directions.

According to Price, the crash occurred when the driver of a Mercury Cougar stopped suddenly in front of the Ralphs truck, causing the truck to rear-end the Cougar.

The victims managed to stop behind the Ralphs truck, but the gravel truck driver following the car did not, Price said.

“Upon impact, the [car] was crushed between the two big rigs, and its gas tank ruptured, exploding into flames,” he said.

The driver of the Cougar fled, and authorities are looking for that driver and a passenger in the car. Price said the car is silver or gray and has moderate rear-end damage.

Only one southbound lane of the freeway was open most of Saturday evening.