On Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 5:11 AM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 3 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, a total of 61 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Wade White, responded to a Multi-Fatality Traffic Collision with Fire on the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway east of Sunland Boulevard in Sunland.

Responding swiftly to a traffic collision with subsequent reports of fire extending to nearby brush, Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find a two vehicle collision with one vehicle fully engulfed in flames.



According to witnesses, a full-size sport utility vehicle towing a cargo trailer collided with a big rig tractor-trailer loaded with lettuce, the smaller vehicle soon thereafter erupting in flames.

An adult male passerby reportedly assisted an 11 year-old male and 9 year-old female from the damaged SUV with minor injuries, before it was consumed by fire. A man, woman and teen male occupants however, remained within the burning vehicle. Sadly beyond the assistance of witnesses or responders, the trio were declared deceased at the scene.

The two surviving children sustained non-life threatening injuries, and were taken by LAFD Ambulance to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles in fair condition.

The adult male driver of the big rig, later complaining of chest discomfort, was taken by LAFD Paramedics to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, also in fair condition.

No other injuries were reported.

With the vehicle fire extinguished and medical treatment underway, firefighters focused their efforts on the burning vegetation, skilfully confining the fire to less than one-quarter acre of grass and brush. The flames were fully extinguished in just 29 minutes.

Firefighters remained at the scene for more than three hours supporting the California Highway Patrol's collision investigation, as well as the Coroner's discreet and dignified removal of the deceased.

The identification and formal relationship of those who died, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of their deaths will be determined by the Coroner's office. The cause of the collision remains within the purview of the California Highway Patrol.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department