Girl Killed, 14 Injured In Chain Reaction Crash On 60 Freeway
SOUTH EL MONTE (CBSLA.com) — A 5-year-old girl was killed Thursday morning in a crash involving a tanker, two big rigs and eight other vehicles on the Pomona (60) Freeway, the California Highway Patrol said.
The chain reaction crash was triggered around 5:40 a.m. when a tanker carrying milk was traveling westbound and failed to slow down for stopped traffic.
The tanker jackknifed and went over the center divider near Santa Anita Boulevard in South El Monte.
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Nine additional vehicles and two tractor trailers were involved in the crash as a result, with two cars and the milk tanker catching fire. Debris from the crash spanned the length of two football fields.
According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, four people were critically injured and 10 others suffered minor to moderate injuries.
Up to ten people were transported to area hospitals, officials said.
A Sig Alert was issued after 6 a.m. and cancelled just before 12:30 p.m.
The 5-year-old victim was identified as Maydeline Salas of South El Monte, the LA Coroner said. She was declared dead at Beverly Hospital.
CBS2's Amy Johnson reported that the semi truck that crashed was owned by Orozco Trucking. That company has had three crashes in the last two years.
In the collision Thursday, more than 100 gallons of diesel fuel and 6,500 gallons of milk were spilled.