Family of 6 Hurt as Van Flips on Freeway, Slams Into Divider : Accident: The northbound Santa Ana Freeway is closed for 30 minutes as victims, four of them children, are treated.

Six family members were injured, four of them critically, when a van in which they were riding Sunday flipped over about eight times and slammed into a center divider on the Santa Ana Freeway.

“People were scattered everywhere,” said Anaheim Fire Capt. Gerald Smith, who noted that all but two of the victims were thrown from the white, late-model Chevrolet van. “They were pretty cut up.”

The driver of the van was identified as Francisco Leon, 38. No address was given. One of the injured was his 3-year-old daughter, Monica Leon. The two were taken by ambulance to UCI Medical Center in Orange, authorities said, where they were listed in guarded condition.

None of the other victims were identified, but authorities said all six were a family.

Two of the children, ages 6 and 9, were flown by helicopter to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. They suffered from internal injuries, neurological trauma, cuts and puncture wounds, authorities said.

None of their injuries, however, appeared to be life threatening, fire officials said.

A 2-year-old girl and her mother, the only occupants wearing seat belts, were taken to Martin Luther Hospital in Anaheim with minor cuts, Smith said.

California Highway Patrol officials were investigating the cause of the accident, which occurred on the northbound freeway near the Brookhurst Street off-ramp about 2:35 p.m.

More than 20 firefighters went to the scene of the accident. All northbound lanes on the freeway were closed for about 30 minutes while the victims were treated.

Smith said some of the victims’ injuries were caused by several cases of soda bottles that shattered during the accident.

Contributing to this story was Times staff writer Geoff Boucher.