Neighbors Rescue 80-Year-Old Woman After Car Crashes Into Gardena Mobile Home, Erupts Into Flames
GARDENA (CBSLA) — The driver of a vehicle has died after crashing into a Gardena mobile home on Sunday, temporarily trapping two residents inside.
After the crash unfolded just after midnight, neighbors broke windows and came to the rescue of the residents, one of whom was an 80-year-old woman.
Residents said the vehicle appeared to have been speeding down the 1500 block of W. 135th Street when it lost control, struck a utility pole, went through a fence and finally crashed into the home which erupted into flames. Cellphone vehicle captured the flames.
The driver of the 2003 Volvo did not survive.
A neighbor identified as "Gus" broke the window of the mobile home and tried to climb in to try to save the woman who was in the back of the mobile home, cutting himself in the process.
"With all the smoke coming out of the window, you can't really breathe that well," said Gus. "So, I was trying to go inside, but I couldn't go inside."
Fortunately, the woman did eventually make it out of the trailer with help from Gus.
A lone dog remained on top of a pile debris waiting for its owners to come home.
Investigators believe the car's speed was a factor in the collision, though the posted speed limit was 35 miles per hour.
Utility crews remained on scene Sunday morning to restore power to the area.
The crash remains under investigation.