One person was killed and three others are in critical condition after a series of crashes that began when a wrong-way driver collided with a vehicle Friday morning on the westbound 10 Freeway in Santa Monica.
The 23-year-old driver entered the westbound 10 Freeway going in the wrong direction at Centinela Avenue at 1 a.m., investigators said. The driver of the red Pontiac GTO collided with another vehicle and veered to the side of the freeway and crashed down an embankment, according to the CHP.
Fire-rescue crews cut through the car's roof to rescue the occupant.
Four people were in the Ford Taurus that the wrong-way driver struck, according to the CHP. As they exited the Ford, the driver of Hyundai traveling in westbound lanes struck the Ford and burst into flames, according to the CHP.
One of the occupants of the Ford was pronounced dead at the scene. Three others are in critical condition.
Details regarding the victims' identities and ages were not immediately available.
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The 42-year-old driver of the Hyundai and the Pontiac driver were taken into custody on suspicion of DUI.
The westbound 10 Freeway was closed near Bundy Drive during the investigation.
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