A Ford Escape driven by a woman who is seven months pregnant was rear-ended by a Volkswagen Passat on I-405 in Seal Beach on Saturday before both cars were engulfed in flames.

The woman’s 4-year-old daughter was also in the Ford Escape, which then rear-ended a third vehicle. A fourth vehicle was also involved, officials said.

The occupants of the vehicles were uninjured and able to get out of the vehicles on their own because they’d been driving at a slow speed, said Capt. Steve Concialdi, Orange County Fire Authority spokesman.

The Escape and the Passat were in flames when first responders arrived, Concialdi said.

“Our firefighters could see a column of smoke for miles as they were responding,” Concialdi said. “By the time they got on the scene, both cars were fully engulfed and destroyed.”

The accident occurred in the carpool lane just north of the 22 shortly after 11 a.m.

The heat from the fires damaged part of the freeway, prompting a four-lane closure and a traffic jam while a Caltrans crew made repairs, Concialdi said.

Aside from that they were uninjured, the CHP had no information on the occupants.

Contact the writer: lponsi@ocregister.com