Two children, mother critically injured in crash

A mother and her two young children were critically injured Tuesday afternoon in an accident in Van Nuys, the apparent result of road rage, police said.

Authorities did not identify the mother, 31, or her children, a 4-year-old boy and a 8 1/2 -month-old girl. The victims, who were starting to walk across the street, were pinned between two parked cars when a black Nissan slammed into one of the parked vehicles, police said. The crash occurred on Sherman Way near Amestoy Avenue shortly after 3 p.m.

The two children were flown by helicopter, and the mother was driven by ambulance, to local hospitals for treatment.

Police took the driver of the Nissan into custody, and they were looking for the driver of a red Camaro that they believe also was involved. That driver was described as a white man with a beard in his 50s.