Car lands in L.A. River

Two women were injured Friday morning when their car flipped into the Los Angeles River off the Golden State (5) Freeway, officials said.

The 43-year-old driver of the Toyota Matrix was traveling north on the freeway in the fast lane when she lost control at an unknown, but high, speed, California Highway Patrol Officer Todd Workman said.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash, which occurred at 4:50 a.m., he said.

The car veered toward the side, swerving down an embankment, running through a grove of trees, finally flipping over into the western channel of the wash, Burbank Fire Department Capt. Ron Bell said.

The river was flowing from rain that began Wednesday night and continued into the morning, which was a concern for both the victims and firefighters, Bell said.

"There was two feet of cold moving water," Bell said. "Hypothermia is a big problem and even a foot of fast moving water can knock you off your feet."

Urban search and rescue teams from Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena and Los Angeles were on the scene to assist in rescue efforts, in which officials performed a double stokes basket operation, Bell said.

"We had a basket that we lowered down for both of them," he said. "Three firefighters on tag lines performed the extrication."

The driver and a 37-year-old passenger were conscious and received nonlife-threatening injuries, Workman said.

It was raining at the time of the crash, which, combined with their speed, caused the crash, he said.

"Due to the wet road ways and because they were going too fast they lost control," he said.

Both were taken to a local trauma center and officials are investigating the cause of the crash.