2 Fathers "Had to Be Held Back" From Trying to Save Their Wives, Kids From Fatal Car Crash
Two mothers and four children were killed on a California freeway Tuesday, ABC 7 reports. The fathers, Aaron Hon Wing Ng, 34, and Wei Xiong Li, 45, "had to be held back from the flames trying to save their families," officials told the station.
According to Reuters, the families were traveling in a minivan, which was first in a minor collision with another car. When they pulled over to inspect the damage from the crash, the rear end of the van was still in the traffic lane and consequently struck from behind by a semi-truck, causing the van to fall down the nearby embankment and catch fire.
The men were able to escape from the two front seats and suffered severe burns on their arms from trying to free the trapped women and children, the Washington Post reports. They reportedly "refused to accept their families' fate," not stopping their efforts until officers arrived on the scene and physically restrained them from trying to get into the wreck. The Post also reports the two families were headed to Northern California on vacation.
California Highway Patrol Officer Dan Williams told the Associated Press he and his partner Jeff Burdick were the ones to restrain the men and tried to get into the car themselves. "Words can't describe it," Williams said. "It was very horrific seeing them try to get their families out, us trying to help get their families out." The men were airlifted to a nearby hospital following the crash. As of Tuesday night, they were both listed in serious condition.
Though the names of the victims have not yet been released, the California Highway Patrol told ABC 7 the children were 2, 3, 4, and 5 years old.
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