Los Angeles, California – August 27, 2011

A baby girl was trapped in a fiery car in a rear-end collision Friday evening that claimed her life.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the Nissan Altima the girl was riding in had a flat tire. Her mother stopped the car in a curved part of California Route 110. The car was hit by a sport-utility vehicle. The impact set the car ablaze near York Boulevard. The exact location of this accident has not been released.

The girl was in her car seat in the car. She was strapped in securely when the collision occurred. Her mother attempted to get to the girl. But the smoke and fire kept her back. She screamed for help and nearby residents came running, including 36-year-old Salvador Martinez. Mr. Martinez did everything he could to get the girl free, while his face and arms became burned. Other residents of the area brought buckets water, a fire extinguisher and garden hoses to put out the fire.

The flames engulfed the car before the mother and neighbors could free the girl. She was killed in the fire. The girl’s mother and the driver of the sport-utility vehicle were taken to the hospital with injuries.

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