Girl Pinned Under Car in Freeway Crash

A 9-year-old Pacoima girl was in fair condition Sunday after a two-car collision on the Golden State Freeway left her pinned under a car, officials said.

The girl was in the back seat of a 1987 Plymouth station wagon that was traveling south near Brand Boulevard about 10:15 p.m. Saturday when it was rear-ended by a Pontiac Grand Prix, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The station wagon’s rear hatch opened and the girl fell onto the roadway in front of the Pontiac. The Pontiac ran over the girl, trapping her underneath it until paramedics and witnesses lifted it and freed her.

The station wagon’s driver, Javier Molina, 38, had just entered the freeway from San Fernando Mission Boulevard when his car experienced mechanical problems, authorities said.

Molina tapped his brake lights to warn traffic behind him, and was steering toward the right shoulder when his car was hit by the Pontiac, driven by 71-year-old Sharon Wiest, the CHP said.

The girl, whose identity wasn’t released, was airlifted to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, hospital spokeswoman Roberta Nichols said.

The girl suffered head trauma and severe bruises to her abdomen, hip and legs and was in the intensive care unit, Nichols said.

Three other people were treated for minor injuries, the CHP said.

Only Molina, a 13-year-old passenger in his car and Wiest were wearing seat belts, the CHP said.