California highway collapse injures two

Two people were injured after an elevated section of a highway in southern California collapsed late Sunday amid heavy rainfall, officials said.

The two injured were harmed when their vehicle went over the side of the road as it gave way.

One of the injured was able to walk away from the scene, while the other was extricated from the car by emergency crews as debris and asphalt fell on the vehicle, which was partially submerged in water, according to a spokeswoman at the Riverside County Fire Department.

The car had to be secured by straps to prevent it from being washed away, and the victim was later transported to a nearby hospital. 

Seventeen firefighters were involved in the rescue mission after the collapse, which took place on the Interstate-10 that connects California to neighboring Arizona. 

The spokeswoman said the collapse may have been caused by recent heavy rains.

"There was rain, we`ve had a significant amount of rain out here," she told AFP. 

She added the road would remain closed indefinitely. 

"Both directions of Interstate-10 are going to be closed for an extensive amount of time," she said. 

The California Highway Patrol will investigate the cause of the incident.