California woman runs over police flares at 90 mph, injures three officers in fiery crash

PARAMOUNT, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - A California Highway Patrol car erupted in a fireball after a suspected drunk driver crashed into it, injuring three officers Thursday in the Paramount area.

Police say the officers were controlling traffic from a previous crash on the freeway when a woman drove an SUV through safety flares and slammed into the cruiser.

A witness said the SUV was going at least 90 miles an hour.

Two officers were inside the car at the time but managed to get out before it caught fire. They have moderate injuries.

"The person who actually hit the CHP car was in the diamond lane going 90, 95, going faster, definitely faster than I was. Um, they flew right past me," said witness Robert Martinez. "There was a, a lane closure CHP had the lane closed with flares out the driver applied no brakes and went straight into the CHP car, all four wheels off the ground. Um, that car flipped CHP stood on the ground. And shortly after is when the CHP car went up in flames."

A third officer standing outside the vehicle was the most seriously injured.

Another person was taken to the hospital, but it's unclear who it was.

The SUV driver was taken into custody.