Crime & Safety
Baldwin Park Man Killed in 605 Freeway Accident in Whittier
Carrasco Anaya, a 67-year-old Baldwin Park man, and Joseph Acuna, 60, of Whittier, died in a car accident Thursday morning.
A Baldwin Park resident is among two men that were killed today during a series of collisions on the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway in Whittier that began when a motorist crashed her car, got out and ran to safety, leaving the vehicle abandoned on the roadway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crashes occurred on the southbound 605 Freeway at Whittier Boulevard, beginning about 2:20 a.m., the CHP reported. Joseph Acuna, 60, of Whittier, and Carrasco Anaya, 67, died at the scene, coroner's Chief Craig Harvey said. Anaya was from Baldwin Park, according to the CHP.
According to the preliminary investigation, the series of crashes began about 2:20 a.m., when 18-year-old Whittier resident Destiny Reyes, driving a Honda Civic, "due to reasons still under investigation ... made an unsafe turning movement, and (her) vehicle collided with the center divider wall,'' CHP officials said.
Find out what's happening in Baldwin Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Reyes, who was unhurt, got out of the Honda and ran to the shoulder of the freeway, the CHP reported. The Honda remained in the southbound lanes, CHP officials said.
According to the CHP's preliminary investigation, beginning about two minutes later -- and in intervals of about two minutes -- four other vehicles crashed, as follows:
Find out what's happening in Baldwin Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
-- A Chrysler 300 driven by Acuna crashed into the Honda.
-- A Toyota Camry driven by Anaya crashed into the Honda and the Chrysler.
-- An Acura RSX approached the scene, driven by Hector Juarez, 29, of San Pedro, and he swerved and avoided the other three vehicles. His vehicle overturned, but he was unhurt.
-- Another Honda Civic, driven by 26-year-old Ivan Garcia of Bellflower, crashed into the first three vehicles, but Garcia was unhurt.
Four of the vehicles were impounded, pending inspections, and the investigation was continuing.
All southbound lanes of the freeway were closed following the crash, and traffic was diverted onto Beverly Boulevard. Some lanes were reopened about 5:30 a.m., and all lanes were open by 6:25 a.m., according to the CHP.
Subscribe to our newsletter |Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Blog on Patch | Claim your business or group's listing