6 die in multi-car crash on California freeway

A wrong-way driver on a California freeway has been arrested after being accused of causing a pre-dawn crash that left six people dead, authorities said.

Olivia Culbreath, 21, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and manslaughter in connection with the crash on State Route 60 in this suburb east of Los Angeles, California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said.

"It's horrific," Jimenez told KABC-TV about the crash scene. Three people were ejected from their cars and the red Chevy Camaro driven by Culbreath was badly mangled.

Authorities said Culbreath was travelling east on the westbound lanes of the freeway around 1010 IST yesterday, when the Camaro collided head-on with a Ford Explorer. A Ford Freestyle then collided with the Explorer.

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, and two people died after being taken to the hospital, he said.

Culbreath was in serious condition at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Centre with a broken femur and a ruptured bladder, Jimenez said.

"There was evidence of alcohol consumption," he said.