2 Dead, 2 Critical After Van Reportedly Goes Over 101 Freeway Overpass In 3-Car Crash

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)  — The CHP says a van appears to have flipped over the Barham Bridge on the 101 Freeway leaving two women dead and two men in critical condition.

At least one of the victims was reported trapped inside the vehicle.

The accident was reported around 7:20 p.m. on the southbound 101 Freeway at Barham.

Traffic is backed up for miles as investigators try to determine the cause of the crash and first responders attend to the victims.

Officials said the van broke through a barrier near the Barham Boulevard and launched over the northbound 101 lanes and landed on the center media and into a second vehicle on the southbound lane. Both vehicles were heavily damaged, officials said.

A third car involved in the accident suffered minor damage and no occupants in this vehicle were injured.

The van held three occupants -- a 50-year-old woman, a 60-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man.

The 2nd vehicle, which was struck by the van had one occupant, a 48-year-old male.

KCAL9's Jennifer Kastner reported from the crash site.

And officer at the scene told her that the van was apparently speeding down Barham Boulevard and tried to turn right on a street that runs parallel to the freeway when the male driver lost control and went through the barrier.

Commuters are told to avoid the area due to significant traffic congestion.