Driver Dies, 8 Passengers Hurt When Van Crashes Into Tree
A man died when the crowded van he was driving struck a eucalyptus tree along the southbound lanes of the Hollywood Freeway on Saturday afternoon.
A 39-year-old woman and seven other passengers, from 2 to 19 years old, suffered “noncritical” injuries, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. The passengers were taken to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center.
The dead man, described as in his mid-30s, was not immediately identified by authorities. Humphrey said the man died at the scene from major head trauma.
The relationship among the victims was unknown to authorities Saturday night.
The accident happened at 3:45 p.m. just north of Universal Center Drive and caused a traffic jam that lasted several hours. Firefighters worked for several minutes to cut the crash victims from the wreckage.
Investigators are still trying to determine why the van left the road, went down an embankment and hit the tree. Officials said they did not know if the people in the van were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident or how fast the van was traveling.
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