Drag race might be to blamed for pileup

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Possible racing on a Los Angeles freeway might be to blame for a six-car pileup that shut down westbound lanes for more than an hour Sunday, officials said.

The Los Angeles Times reported the multiple-vehicle crash occurred at 3:47 a.m. west of the Long Beach Freeway near Indiana Street, after one of the drivers apparently lost control.

At least one car caught fire, and bystanders reported pulling several people from the flames, said Los Angeles County Fire Supervising Dispatcher Bryan Webb.

The newspaper reported one person was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in critical condition and another was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

California Highway Patrol Officer David Porter said westbound freeway traffic was closed near the scene until 6 a.m.