Two people were killed, and four others injured, in a DUI crash that temporarily closed the northbound 605 Freeway in Norwalk early Monday morning.
The identities of the two deceased were withheld pending notification of their next of kin, according to a California Highway Patrol news release. They were described as a 52-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman both from Paramount who were inside a 1999 Ford Windstar.
A 31-year-old man from Norwalk, Alex Barragan, was arrested on suspicion of driving his car under the influence of alcohol, according to the CHP.
The crash occurred just after 1 a.m. when a car and a minivan collided on the northbound freeway near Rosecrans Avenue.
Investigators believe the car, a 2006 Infiniti, rear ended the minivan, California Highway Patrol officer Raquel Stage said.
Video from the scene showed both vehicles caught fire following the crash.
The windstar was “disabled” in the No. 3 lane when the car crashed into the back of the minivan at an unknown speed that resulted in both vehicles to become “fully engulfed” in fire, according to the news release.
A man inside the minivan got out and was pulled away from the burning vehicle by a good Samaritan, but was later pronounced dead on the freeway, Stage said.
The 19-year-old woman who remained inside the minivan also died at the scene.
There were two other people from Paramount inside the minivan, including a 7-year-old girl, that were hospitalized.
The girl sustained major injuries while 22-year-old Martina Beshara suffered moderate injuries, according to the CHP.
Barragan and Monica Madrid, 22, of Norwalk were inside the Infiniti that struck the minivan, authorities said.
The man, who received medical treatment on scene from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, was taken into custody.
The woman, who also received treatment, suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Officials issued a SigAlert for the closure of all northbound lanes at 1:14 a.m.
All lanes were reopened on the freeway at 6:14 a.m.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact CHP Officer Salazar at the Santa Fe Springs Area CHP Office at 562-868-0503.
