5 people killed in a fiery single-vehicle crash on a Southern California freeway

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Five people were killed, including two 15-year-olds, and another suffered major injuries in a fiery single-vehicle crash on a Southern California freeway early Monday, authorities said.

The crash was reported on Interstate 710 in north Long Beach shortly after 4 a.m., said California Highway Patrol spokesperson Angelia Gonzalez.

The Hyundai Sonata smashed into a shock-absorbing safety device known as an attenuator in front of a concrete barrier and burst into flames, authorities said.

Gonzalez said some people in the car apparently weren’t wearing seatbelts and some were thrown from the car.

Two of the victims were identified as George Dobbs, 15, and Ariahh Slemaker, 15, both of Long Beach. The other victims weren’t immediately identified by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

The wreck caused a significant traffic jam during the morning commute through south Los Angeles County.