2-year-old girl killed in fiery crash on 110 Freeway

A 2-year-old girl died Friday in a multi-car accident on the 110 Freeway in Highland Park, despite efforts by her mother and neighborhood residents to rescue her from the burning wreckage.

“You could hear the screams of the child. They were high-pitched and terrible. Then they stopped,” said one witness, who ran out from his home after he heard the mother’s cries for help.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a Nissan Altima and a GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle collided about 5:20 p.m. on the southbound freeway just north of York Boulevard, a curving section of highway with three lanes that is known for frequent accidents.

The impact caused the Altima carrying the little girl and her mother to burst into flames, which spread through the vehicle as nearby residents rushed to fight the fire and free the child from the car. They were unable to do so as the intense heat drove them back.

The accident closed several lanes of the freeway and backed up traffic in both directions for miles. Some drivers simply parked and left their vehicles on the roadway. LA NOW