A late-night drive on the eastbound 210 Freeway near Lowell Avenue in Altadena turned deadly when an SUV overturned and a passenger was ejected, then hit by another car, according to authorities. The early morning Dec. 20 crash involved a Nissan Pathfinder that was struck, spun out of control and rolled into a guardrail. Investigators say the driver of a pickup truck that initially hit the Pathfinder kept going eastbound without stopping. The person who died has not yet been publicly identified.
What Officials Are Saying
A California Highway Patrol news release, reported by CBS Los Angeles, says the collision happened at about 1:20 a.m. on Dec. 20. The impact left the Pathfinder on its side. The passenger was thrown out onto the freeway and then hit by another vehicle before officers arrived, according to the release. Detectives told the station that the pickup driver did not stop and has not been identified.
Scene, Response and Traffic Impact
Firefighter-paramedics from the Glendale Fire Department responded and pronounced the ejected passenger dead at the scene, while at least one other person was taken to a hospital in critical condition, reporting by ABC7 notes. CHP issued a SigAlert that shut down multiple lanes for hours while officers investigated and crews cleared the wreckage, turning part of the 210 into a long, flashing crime scene in the middle of the night.
What Investigators Want From the Public
Investigators are asking for anyone who saw the crash, has dash-cam footage or might recognize the fleeing pickup to come forward. CBS Los Angeles reports that CHP relayed a specific request for witnesses or video that could help identify the driver who left the scene. Anyone with information is urged to contact CHP Altadena Area Officer Gamlet Petrosyan at (626) 296-8100.
Legal Consequences
Under California law, leaving the scene of a crash that causes injury or death can be prosecuted as a crime under Vehicle Code Section 20001. As summarized by Justia, the statute allows for felony charges when a person flees after a collision that results in death. Penalties can include time in state prison, fines and possible sentence enhancements when death or permanent serious injury is involved, which is not the kind of risk most defense attorneys would recommend taking.
Why The Case Still Matters
The deadly rollover was one of several serious crashes reported across the region that night, highlighting how quickly freeway driving can turn fatal, as the Los Angeles Times observed. With no public identification of the victim and no arrest announced, authorities say timely tips and any available video could be crucial to tracking down the pickup driver and moving the case toward potential charges. On a crowded freeway, even a few seconds of footage might be the detail that finally connects the dots.
