Palmdale crash: 2 children, 1 adult killed after car bursts into flames

PALMDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- Two children and an adult were killed in a fiery crash after being rear-ended on the southbound 14 Freeway in Palmdale. Two other victims are hospitalized.

The crash happened around 10:30 p.m. Friday south of Avenue S. The California Highway Patrol says Ric Garrison, 58, of Newhall, was driving a 2013 Tesla when he rear-ended a 2004 Corolla with two adults and three children inside.

The Corolla spun around, flipped over and split in half, bursting into flames.

Police say Ezrol Dean Mack and his brother ran up to the burning car and were able to pull a 6-year-old boy and Tyree Lavon Nash, 31, of Lancaster, from the crash. The boy was airlifted to Children's Hospital Los Angeles with severe burns. Nash was driven to Antelope Valley Medical Center with major injuries.

"The baby was caught up inside the car seat with a seat belt around his neck against the window," Mack said. "His face was smashed against the window like 'help me, help me!' So the first thing I was thinking of was trying to get him out, and I just cut the seat belt, and then I grabbed the baby by his shoulder pits and started pulling, started pulling, started pulling."

A 40-year-old and two other children ages 8 and 13 were trapped in the wreckage and burned to death, the California Highway Patrol said.

The relationship between the victims in the Corolla is unknown.

Garisson was the only occupant of the Tesla at the time of the crash. He suffered minor injuries and was not arrested.

All southbound lanes of the 14 Freeway have reopened.