15 hurt when 2 firetrucks collide near L.A.

Fifteen people were injured Wednesday when two firetrucks collided as they raced to a house fire near Los Angeles, sending one engine careening into a Chinese restaurant, according to authorities and news reports.

The injured included firefighters, pedestrians and restaurant patrons, KABC-TV reported. One person was in critical condition.

The crash occurred about 3:15 p.m. PT in the San Gabriel Valley city of Monterey Park, east of Los Angeles. Engines from Monterey Park and nearby Alhambra collided at an intersection, sending the Monterery Park truck crashing into Lu Dumpling House on the corner.

Five firefighters and four civilians were hospitalized at Los Angeles County USC Medical Center, with one civilian in critical condition, a spokeswoman said. The other injuries were described as moderate or minor.

Five victims were taken to GarfieldMedical Center, just down the street from the accident site.

Monterey Park, 10 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, has about 60,000 residents, nearly half of Chinese descent.