SOUTHLAND : 4 Killed in Fiery Tanker Crash on San Bernardino Freeway

Four people were killed in Montclair during the night when a Chevrolet Blazer slammed into an overturned gasoline tanker truck causing a fiery explosion that shut down the San Bernardino Freeway in both directions for several hours, authorities said today.

A 36-year-old Glendora woman was believed to be at the wheel of the Blazer when it hit the twin tanker, according to a California Highway Patrol spokesman. It will be several days before a comparison of dental records can be made to confirm the identities of the four people who were trapped in the flaming vehicle, Los Angeles County coroner’s spokesman Bob Dambacher said.

CHP spokeswoman Lydia Martinez said it is believed that the other three victims were two teen-age boys and a child about 10 years of age whose gender was unknown. Dambacher, however, indicated that the victims included the woman, an adult male and a teen-aged boy and girl.

The tanker truck driver, Linzell Washington, 52, of La Puente, was uninjured in the crash, which occurred at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Washington told CHP officers that he was driving westbound at about 55 m.p.h. just east of Monte Vista Avenue when the tanker’s brakes locked and it spun out of control. Washington had left his cab to check on the problem when he saw the Blazer strike the truck.