Fatality in Today's Big Rig Crash Is a Child

Originally posted at 6:36 p.m. June 6, 2014. Edited with new details.

A child was killed and seven other people, including another child, were injured today when a big rig, a dump truck and a minivan crashed in the McClure Tunnel linking the Santa Monica (10) Freeway and Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica.

The crash occurred about 12:35 p.m. on the westbound side of the freeway, according to Robin Gee, public information manager with the city of Santa Monica.

Two children were critically injured in the wreck and taken to hospitals, where one died, Santa Monica Fire Department Deputy Chief Tom Clemo said. The children's ages were not immediately known.

Six other people -- five from the minivan and one of the truck drivers -- suffered moderate injuries in the crash, Clemo said.

The injured truck driver declined to be taken to a hospital against medical advice, Gee said. The rest were taken to hospitals, she said.

The crash shut down both directions of the Santa Monica Freeway, backing up traffic into the Mid-City area. Eastbound lanes reopened at about 2 p.m., but westbound lanes were not reopened until around 6:30 p.m.

The crash also caused a major backup on the PCH, California Highway Patrol Officer Peter Bishop said.

Traffic on surface streets also was snarled as motorists sought to make their way through the area.

--City News Service