Glendale, California – A tragic accident on the eastbound Ventura (134) Freeway in Glendale has claimed the life of 24-year-old Jake Huard early Saturday morning. The fatal incident occurred when Huard, who was a passenger in a stationary vehicle, exited the car and was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
The California Highway Patrol reported that the incident was first noted at 11:41 p.m. on Friday as a stalled vehicle in the No. 2 lane of the freeway, just west of Pacific Avenue. However, upon arrival, officers discovered that what started as a routine call had escalated into a fatal two-car collision.
According to Officer V. Franco, who is leading the investigation, a silver Mitsubishi was stopped in the lane for reasons that are still being investigated. Huard, who was in the right front passenger seat, exited the vehicle at this time. A black Mazda, traveling eastbound in the same lane at speeds exceeding 65 mph, collided with the rear of the stationary Mitsubishi. The impact caused the Mazda to strike Huard, who was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
The 19-year-old driver of the Mitsubishi, a woman from Pasadena, was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained major injuries. The driver of the Mazda, a 22-year-old man from El Monte, suffered minor injuries.
In response to the accident, authorities closed all eastbound lanes of the Ventura Freeway around midnight to conduct a thorough investigation. The freeway was reopened to traffic at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday.
The exact circumstances leading to the vehicle’s malfunction and the reason for Huard’s exit from the car remain under investigation. This tragic event has deeply affected the community, highlighting the inherent dangers of freeway travel and the importance of vehicle safety.