SUV Burns After Crash into Building Ruptures Gas Line

Whittier, Los Angeles County, CA: Firefighters were challenged early Saturday morning, Sept. 24, when a single vehicle crash into a building struck a gas line causing the vehicle to erupt into flames on the 13300 block of Leffingwell Road at Carmenita in the city of Whittier.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the 3:08 a.m. reported incident and located a burning SUV propelled by a gas line the vehicle struck in a collision with a building. Fire was also extending into the structure. The open gas line posed a challenge for firefighters battling to extinguish the flames.

Witnesses at the scene told officers they saw one person still inside the vehicle that was not pulled out. LACoFD’s heavy tow responded to the location to pull the vehicle away from the building for an internal inspection. Firefighters confirmed there were no victims inside the vehicle.

It is unknown if there was a driver transported to a hospital.

Firefighters along with the gas company were able to shut off the gas to the building.

California Highway Patrol Santa Fe Springs is handling the investigation.

Randy Dominguez, Video Journalist / KNN