3 Women Die, Girl Hurt in Freeway Crash

Three women were killed and a 4-year-old girl was critically injured Sunday when a tire went flat on their sport utility vehicle on the Pomona Freeway in Monterey Park and the vehicle crashed into a signpost in the center divider, authorities said.

All five people in the Toyota 4-Runner were thrown from the vehicle.

They apparently were not wearing seat belts, said California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Joy.

The accident occurred about 5:45 p.m. on the westbound freeway at Atlantic Boulevard.

The freeway was closed for about three hours.

The women died at the scene, Joy said.

Their names were not immediately available, but Joy said they were between 18 and 25.

The girl was undergoing surgery Sunday night, Joy said, and was in critical condition.

A fifth passenger in the vehicle was injured but was able to walk away from the accident, Joy said. Details of that person’s injuries were unavailable.