Freeway Crash Kills Man, Injures Driver
A car slammed into a disabled vehicle on the Glendale Freeway early Wednesday, killing a passenger who was outside checking the car for damage and seriously injuring its driver, authorities said.
The accident occurred about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after Jose Martinez, 27, of Pasadena, lost control of his Toyota Tercel while driving northbound on the freeway, south of Colorado Boulevard near Glendale. His vehicle struck the concrete divider and came to rest sideways, blocking one of the freeway lanes, police said.
The male passenger in Martinez’s car got out of the Toyota and walked to its rear to check for damage.
Brandon Ito, 21, of La Canada Flintridge, was traveling at a high rate of speed in a Ford Mustang and apparently didn’t see Martinez’s car.
Ito’s Mustang smashed into the disabled car, pinning the passenger under the Toyota, California Highway Patrol Officer Richard Perez said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld pending notification of his family.
Martinez suffered major head injuries and was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Ito was not injured in the collision and is not facing criminal charges.
Authorities believe Martinez was driving under the influence, Perez said.
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