1 dead, 3 injured in violent chain-reaction crash with 4 vehicles in Hawthorne

HAWTHORNE, Calif. (KABC) -- At least one person is dead and three others were rushed to the hospital after a violent multi-car crash in Hawthorne on Sunday.

It happened around 11:45 a.m.at the intersection of Imperial Highway and Inglewood Avenue.

Video from the scene shows debris all over the roadway from the violent crash.

Police say the driver of a blue SUV collided with a vehicle, sparking a chain-reaction of crashes involving four vehicles.

The Hawthorne Police Department said two people had to be extricated from one of the vehicles by Los Angeles County firefighters.

A bystander told Eyewitness News that it seemed like the driver who caused the crash didn't want to stop at the red light.

"The light was red, and I saw this blue Durango truck coming like going like 80 mph or more, flying. He didn't slow down, stop, hit the brakes, yield or nothing," said witness Travis Williamson.

He described approaching the scene and helping the victims.

"Hit the side of that truck and just smashed into the back of that little car like, 'boom!' And it hit the other little car like, 'boom!' So I jumped out my truck... and ran towards the truck, but they were jumping out of the truck, so I'm like, 'They're alright,'" Williamson said. "I ran to the car. The driver, I felt for her pulse, I didn't feel it there. Everybody that ran over there didn't even notice that there was a young lady in the passenger seat. So I said, 'There's a lady in the passenger seat.' I ran to the passenger's seat. And the young lady, she heard my voice, so she rose up... she was still conscious."

Video shows one of the survivors being taken away on a stretcher. Police have not said if speed or alcohol was a factor in the crash.

A total of four people were taken to the hospital, including the person who was pronounced dead. Investigators say one person remains in "extremely critical condition."

The investigation into the deadly crash is ongoing. The intersection of Imperial Highway and Inglewood Avenue was closed for several hours, but police have since reopened it.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or may have video footage related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Hawthorne Police Department Traffic Bureau at 310.349.2701.