One person was killed early Saturday when a car slammed into a freeway pillar near Los Angeles International Airport and burst into flames, triggering a large emergency response.
The crash happened around 5 a.m. near Imperial Highway and S. Hughes Way, according to an LAPD spokesperson. Video from the scene showed the vehicle fully engulfed in flames as Los Angeles Fire Department crews worked to put out the fire.
Once the flames were extinguished, the car was left a charred wreck with severe damage to its front end. Reports from the scene indicated the vehicle struck a freeway pillar, though investigators have not yet explained what led up to the crash.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed one person was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries requiring medical transport were reported.
A man who had been sleeping in his own car nearby described being jolted awake by the impact.
“I think somebody in that car, bro,” he said. “I just heard a big boom. I was in the car asleep. Oh, god.”
The crash occurred near a FedEx hub at LAX and drew a large multi-agency response, including the LAPD West Traffic Division, LAFD, the California Highway Patrol and LAX Police.
Authorities have not released the identity of the person killed, and it remains unclear whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.
The fatal wreck comes just days after a United Airlines flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles experienced severe turbulence during descent, injuring four flight attendants. The plane reportedly dropped more than 3,500 feet in a single minute at one point, lifting passengers out of their seats.
