The Orange County Independent News from Orange County California
A mini van carrying four adults and a 3 month old baby from Sammamish, Wa. burst into flames after it may have struck an object in the roadway on the southbound 5 freeway around 11:15 pm Friday night near Tustin Ranch Road in Tustin. The driver told CHP Officers that he saw flames coming from the rear of the Dodge Caravan and pulled to the right shoulder.
The driver and 3 adult passengers attempted to get the baby out of the mini van but were pushed back by intense flames. The 30 year old male driver suffered burns to his hand and face while attempting to save the baby. An off duty City of Bell Police Officer stopped to assist the passengers until Firefighters arrived.
All four adults were transported by ambulance to nearby Orange County Global Hospital in Santa Ana. The hospital is a trauma center and is equipped to handle serious burn injuries.
Officers from the Santa Ana Office of the California Highway Patrol are investigating the cause of the incident with the help of an Investigator from the Orange County Fire Authority.
