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CULVER CITY (CNS) - Authorities Monday were investigating the death of an infant on the northbound San Diego (405) Freeway in the Culver City area, and were working to determine if she and another young girl who was injured could have been hit by one or more vehicles.
Officers were sent to the area of the Sepulveda Boulevard/Howard Hughes Parkway exit of the northbound freeway about 4:30 a.m. after a report of a traffic crash in the area, according to the California Highway Patrol and reports from the scene.
At a news conference late Monday morning, CHP officials said they found two girls at the scene -- a baby girl believed to be 5 or 6 months old in the roadway and a girl between 7 and 9 years old on the right shoulder.
Information was not immediately available on the identity of the infant, who died at the scene. The other girl was hospitalized with "moderate" injuries, the CHP reported.
"At the moment, it's unknown how those minors arrived onto the freeway," CHP Officer Diaz told reporters. "This is where we're requesting the public's assistance."
Diaz said it was not known if the children were hit by cars while on the freeway. Witnesses said a black sedan was seen at the site around the time of the crash. At least two freeway lanes were blocked while an investigation was conducted.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the CHP Southern Division Major Crimes office at 323-644-9550, or the CHP Traffic Management Center at 323-259-3200.