Witnesses detain L.A. driver accused in fiery, fatal 10 Fwy crash

Witnesses say an aggressive driver caused a fiery crash that shut down the 10 Freeway Monday night, killing one woman and sending two others to the hospital, including the accused motorist who was detained at the scene by fellow drivers. When crews with the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived just after 7 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of the 10 Freeway near South Robertson Boulevard in West L.A.’s Palms neighborhood, they found one of the victims’ Toyota Prius fully engulfed in flames. Construction worker Jacob Deegan was driving just behind the collision and told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell that the driver who caused the crash was weaving dangerously through traffic. Deegan said the motorist crossed four lanes before clipping the back of the Prius. The impact, according to Deegan, caused the Prius and two other vehicles to crash into the center median, where the Prius burst into flames. “I’ve never seen a fire that giant that up close before,” said Eve Porinchak, who also witnessed the crash. “There was a lot of black smoke and a lot of minor explosions. It was very, very hot. It lit up very quickly.” Deegan said he was the first person out of his car and was quickly joined by other stunned witnesses who rushed in to help. He said he grabbed a golf club and tried pounding on the window of the burning Prius, but had to back away when the flames intensified. That was when he noticed the man responsible for the crash sprinting down the freeway. “I did tackle him and I got him on the ground and I just asked him, ‘Hey, man, sit right here,’” Deegan said. “He kept trying to run off.” Deegan and other witnesses managed to detain the man until officers with the California Highway Patrol arrived and took him into custody. Several witnesses who spoke with KTLA said they were traumatized by what they saw and experienced during the ordeal. Porinchak said she was grateful to see strangers come together in a moment of crisis. “Regardless of what the rest of the world says about us, we’re good people,” she said. “L.A. has so many good people who will help strangers. Thank goodness for good people.” Investigators have not yet identified the victim or the suspect.