At least 1 Dead, Several Seriously Hurt After Car Slams Into Harbor Gateway Home

HARBOR GATEWAY (CBSLA.com) —  At least one person was killed and several others seriously wounded when a car slammed into a home in Harbor Gateway Wednesday evening, authorities said.

Two people also reportedly had serious injuries and three others had "lesser injuries," according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The LAPD said a total of nine adults were injured, five critically including the one fatally wounded.

The crash occurred in the 14000 block of South Orchard Avenue, just west of the 110 Freeway.  It was reported just before 9:10 p.m., officials said.

The major injuries were all people who were inside the home.

The victims ranged in ages from the 40s to the 80s, Humphrey said.

All of the victims were transported to the hospital by ambulance.

KCAL9's Rachel Kim said the driver fled the scene and police are also treating the accident as a hit-and-run.

She also said that several of the victims were pinned under the vehicle.

Kim spoke to a neighbor who said the assembled group had gathered for a prayer meeting and that many of the victims were elderly.

The neighbor, named Clark, said he tried to help several of the victims.

"When she ran out," he said about one woman, "she kept saying, 'My sister died, my sister died.' And we tried to help the people who were hurt. Buyt the car was too heavy and people were pinned underneath the car. It was a bad situation made worse knowing that people were inside the house praying."

Clark also said he saw the driver flee and that in his opinion she was "clearly under the influence."