Woman killed as car jumps Los Angeles freeway, hits homeless camp

LOS ANGELES - A car shot off the side of a Los Angeles freeway and went about 20 feet down an embankment where it landed on a homeless encampment, killing a woman Tuesday, authorities said.

Three people inside the car were injured.

The Honda sedan went over the right shoulder of southbound Interstate 405 in Van Nuys after 6 p.m. Tuesday, California Highway Patrol Officer Elizabeth Kravig said.

The scene at the encampment, a dirt area surrounded by trees and brush, was littered with clothing, water bottles and trash.

"A transient or some kind of pedestrian got wedged underneath the vehicle," Kravig said.

The 40-year-old woman was crushed and died at the scene, she said.

Two men were taken to the hospital in serious to critical condition and the driver was hospitalized in fair condition with non-life threatening injuries, according to a Fire Department message.

There was no immediate word on what caused the car to jump the freeway.