Drag Racing Possible Cause of Malibu Crash

Two people were injured in a vehicle crash early Sunday afternoon on Pacific Coast Highway in West Malibu that might have been due to drag racing.

Lt. Jim Royal of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station said the driver of a Dodge Viper was moving eastbound at a high rate of speed on PCH near Trancas Canyon Road at about 12:30 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle. The Viper veered into a westbound lane, where it hit a Nissan Pathfinder driven by a mother who had her two children—ages 4 and 7—in the vehicle.

The Pathfinder rolled over and landed on its hood, Royal said. The mother suffered leg injuries and was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center. The children were wearing seatbelts and were not injured.

The viper spun out of control and caught fire, Royal said. The driver received bumps on the side of his head and complained of chest pains. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance.

Royal said witnessed reported the Viper was racing another vehicle, which sped away during the incident. 

None of the people involved in the crash have Malibu addresses, Royal said.

PCH was closed in both directions until about 2 p.m.