2 mothers, 4 children from Bay Area die in fiery van crash on I-5

Video: kpix Bay Area Mothers, Children Killed In ‘Horrific’ Minivan Wreck In SoCal

Two Bay Area mothers and their four children burned to death early Tuesday as the hysterical fathers tried to pull them from the flames after their van was hit by a semitrailer 65 miles north of Los Angeles, authorities said.

The Toyota Sienna minivan carrying the two families had been in an accident with another car at 3:28 a.m. and was partially blocking the right lane of Interstate 5 near the community of Gorman.

It wasn’t clear whether the Sienna was disabled or just stopped, but a semitrailer going about 55 mph slammed into the van from behind, knocking it down an embankment, where it burst into flames, said California Highway Patrol Officer Ron Pomeroy.

In this image made from video, a minivan is burned on the side of Interstate 5, near the community of Gorman in Tejon Pass, about 65 miles north of downtown Los Angeles Tuesday, June 28, 2016. A fiery minivan wreck killed two mothers and their four children on a highway in northern Los Angeles County. less In this image made from video, a minivan is burned on the side of Interstate 5, near the community of Gorman in Tejon Pass, about 65 miles north of downtown Los Angeles Tuesday, June 28, 2016. A fiery minivan ... more Photo: KTLA-TV Photo: KTLA-TV Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close 2 mothers, 4 children from Bay Area die in fiery van crash on I-5 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

Pomeroy said the minivan driver, 34-year-old Aaron Hon Wing Ng of San Francisco, and the front passenger, 45-year-old Wei Xiong Li of Daly City, managed to escape.

The big rig driver and two CHP officers who arrived shortly after the crash scrambled to help the men save their families, but the fire was too hot, Pomeroy said.

“The vehicle was fully engulfed immediately after the collision,” Pomeroy said. “Those two gentlemen along with our CHP officers attempted to extinguish the flames and pull the other occupants out of the vehicle, but they were unable. They were overcome by flames.”

CHP Officer Dan Williams told reporters that he arrived at the scene with his partner, Officer Jeff Burdick, just as the van caught fire. He attempted to put the flames out using a fire extinguisher while Burdick tried to reach into the van through the door, but “the flames came at him — he had to back out.”

As the situation became hopeless, Williams and Burdick had to hold Li and Ng back as they desperately attempted to get to their wives and children.

“Words can’t describe it,” Williams told the Associated Press. “It was very horrific seeing them try to get their families out, us trying to help get their families out.”

Pomeroy said the two men were hysterical and that “the whole scene was chaotic.” The men were both airlifted to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Santa Clarita, where they were treated for burns and moderate injuries. Burdick was also treated for burns, Pomeroy said.

The names and ages of the victims were not released, and their relatives were too distraught Tuesday to talk. A female relative of Ng’s teared up after answering the front door of his apartment unit on Clay Street in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

“This is a very difficult time for us,” she said.

Both the accidents are under investigation, Pomeroy said, and Williams and Burdick are being offered counseling to help them through the ordeal.

Jenna Lyons and Peter Fimrite are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com, pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JennaJourno @pfimrite