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A fiery wreck near Los Angeles International Airport killed one person early Saturday, sending towering flames into the sky and scrambling emergency crews from multiple agencies to the scene.
The single-vehicle crash was reported around 5 a.m. near Imperial Highway and S. Hughes Way, an LAPD spokesperson told The California Post.
Video from the scene showed enormous flames engulfing the vehicle as Los Angeles Fire Department crews raced to put out the blaze.
The car appeared to have suffered catastrophic damage to its front end, leaving it a charred, smoldering wreck once firefighters extinguished the flames. Reports from the scene indicated the vehicle slammed into a freeway pillar, though the circumstances of the crash remain unclear.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, the LAFD told The Post. No other medical transports were reported.
A witness who had been sleeping in his car when the crash happened described waking up to the horrifying impact.
“I think somebody in that car, bro,” he yelled. “I just heard a big boom. I was in the car asleep. Oh, god.”
The crash occurred near a FedEx hub at LAX, drawing a massive emergency response involving the LAPD West Traffic Division, LAFD, California Highway Patrol and LAX Police.
Officials had not released details about the victim, and it was unclear whether alcohol played a role in the crash.
The deadly wreck came just days after a terrifying turbulence incident rattled passengers aboard a United Airlines flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles.
Four United flight attendants were injured when the plane encountered severe turbulence during descent, reportedly plunging more than 3,500 feet in a minute at one point and lifting passengers out of their seats.