Car falls 100 feet over side of 5 Freeway near Castaic

CASTAIC, Calif. (KABC) -- One person was killed and four others were injured after a car fell 100 feet over the side of the southbound 5 Freeway in the Angeles National Forest north of Castaic.

The crash was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday. A 57-year-old woman, identified as Rosa Torres of Salinas, was declared dead at the scene.

The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu flipped several times before rolling down a steep embankment.

Four other people were critically injured, including the 22-year-old driver and three children, Los Angeles County fire officials said. All four were flown by helicopter to nearby hospitals.

Authorities say the passenger and the driver were not wearing seatbelts and were fully ejected onto the embankment. The other three passengers, ages 15, 8 and 4, were seatbelted.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be a factor, police say.

At 4 p.m., all southbound lanes in the area were blocked to make room for helicopters, according to the California Highway Patrol.

City News Service contributed to this report.