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A woman was killed in a fiery crash on the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway near Porter Ranch, and her husband was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired, authorities said Friday.
The crash was reported about 11:45 p.m. Thursday on the westbound 118 Freeway west of Zelzah Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol.
David Cohen, 31, of Northridge, was taken to a hospital for treatment of moderate injuries, and he was then arrested and booked on suspicion of DUI, CHP Officer Weston Haver of the West Valley Area office told City News Service.
Zeomara Cohen, 31, also of Northridge, died at the scene, Haver said.
The couple's three daughters were also taken to a hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. They were identified as Cienna Marquez, 9; Chanel Cohen, 4; and Chloe Cohen, 4 months old. The children were released to the custody of family members, Haver said.
"The Los Angeles Communications Center received calls of a solo vehicle traffic collision with the vehicle being fully engulfed in flames," Haver said in a statement. "Preliminary investigation indicates a white 2019 Lexus RX 350, driven by David Cohen, was traveling on westbound SR-118, west of Zelzah Avenue, at an unknown speed.
"For unknown reasons, the Lexus made a turning movement to the right, left the roadway and collided with a wood/metal guardrail, traveled up a dirt embankment, and collided with a concrete sewer drainage where it caught on fire," Haver said. "David Cohen was able to get himself and one of the three children out of the vehicle.
"Two Los Angeles Police Department officers witnessed the collision and stopped to render aid," Haver's statement said. "The LAPD officers were able to extricate the remaining children out of the Lexus, but they were unable to extricate Zeomara Cohen before the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames."
The family was returning from a graduation party when the vehicle crashed, Fox 11 reported. Following the crash, several other vehicles were involved in a collision near the scene.