Four Nasa workers die as van plunges off mountain

A van carrying workers to Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory tumbled 200 feet off a mountain road today, killing at least four people and trapping five others, officials said.

The van went off Angeles Crest Highway in the Angeles National Forest and rolled down the embankment, Los Angeles County Fire Department inspector John Mancha said.

Five people were trapped and one person was flung from the vehicle, Mancha said.

Television reports showed a badly battered white van lying in the middle of dense forest.

Firefighters made their way down and were taking out victims by helicopter.