Ten people were injured in an eight-car accident in San Jose late Sunday night, in a fiery crash that began with a speeding Mercedes, and a driver arrested on a felony DUI charge.
Officer Albert Morales said the driver was arrested. But as of Monday morning, the driver's identity had not been released. He has been treated and released from the hospital. Police would only say that he was in his 20s.
Three of the injured - all of whom were in the Mercedes - were taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries, police said. As of Monday morning, all were were expected to live. Six others were taken to various hospitals. Their conditions were not immediately known.
The major injury collision was reported at 9:28 p.m., when officers spotted a black Mercedes sedan traveling eastbound on Ocala Avenue near Capitol Expressway at a "high rate of speed."
Officers said the Mercedes plowed through a red light at the intersection and broadsided another vehicle. The Mercedes rolled over several time colliding with other cars and a light in the process.
*Mass Casualty Accident* San Jose Police assisted in rescue of victims trapped in a burning vehicle. SJPD will be PIO pic.twitter.com/WffCQF4p2M — San Jose Fire Dept. (@SJFD) August 18, 2014
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Finally, the Mercedes landed in the westbound lane of Ocala Avenue. The driver of the Mercedes got out of the car and began to run. But he was arrested shortly afterward.
Morales said there were three passengers trapped in the Mercedes as it began to go up in flames. Officers began to put out the fire with fire extinguishers until firefighters arrived and took over eventually extricated the three passengers.
Mario Barajas watched the crash unfold, and he was one of the injured: "The guy was in flames and some people weer trying to get the other person out and they couldn't get him out."
Firefighters tweeted out pictures of the "mass casualty accident," which required seven ground ambulances, one air ambulance and a second alarm.
