FOUR KIDS HURT, TWO CRITICALLY, IN FREEWAY COLLISION.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

ARLETA - Four boys were injured Friday, two critically, when they were ejected from an SUV that spun out of control after colliding with an empty tanker-truck on the northbound Golden State Freeway, authorities said.

The collision happened about 8 a.m. when a 30-year-old Bell woman lost control of her Mitsubishi SUV near the Osborne Street off-ramp. Her vehicle hit the center divider, ricocheted into the tanker-truck and spun out of control, ejecting the youngsters, ranging in age from 4 to 9.

``It appears they were not wearing any kind of safety restraint,'' said Jim Wells of the Los Angeles Fire Department. ``When the door flew open, all four kids were tossed out on the freeway.''

The California Highway Patrol briefly closed the freeway in both directions so the youngsters could be airlifted from the scene, officials said. Two were listed in critical condition, and a third child was reported to be in serious condition, Wells said.

The driver of the SUV and the fourth child were taken by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, officials said.