Clamp hits vehicle, killing 2 passengers

LOS ANGELES – A 13 1/2 -pound metal clamp that fell off a truck smashed through the windshield of a minivan on a busy freeway Thursday, killing two men, authorities said.

The two were headed to work about 5:30 a.m. when a coupling used to bind containers flew off the truck and crashed through their vehicle on an interstate about 5 miles northeast of downtown.

One victim was the right front passenger and the other was sitting directly behind him.

The driver and three other male passengers in the three-row van escaped injury. Authorities have not located the truck.