Motorist Dies in Fiery 5-Vehicle Freeway Crash

A sport utility vehicle hit from behind by another car burst into flames on the Hollywood Freeway on Wednesday night, burning a motorist to death, officials said.

Five vehicles were involved in the incident, which snarled rush-hour traffic, said California Highway Patrol Officer Richard Perez. The cause was under investigation.

All five vehicles were northbound on the freeway about 6 p.m. and had just passed the Roscoe Boulevard exit when the chain-reaction collision occurred, Perez said.

Two cars careened off the freeway and into plastic road barriers, said Los Angeles city Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. The sport utility vehicle remained on the road but was enveloped in flames, and rescue teams could not save the driver.

Two Canyon Country men, ages 19 and 47, were taken to Pacifica Hospital of the Valley in Sun Valley, where they were treated for minor injuries, Humphrey said. A fourth victim declined treatment at the scene.