A motorist suspected of driving while impaired wasarrested following a fatal crash Thursday on the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway in the Sun Valley area, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The collision, which occurred about 1 a.m. near Sheldon Street, involved a 2003 Lexus IS300 that was being driven “at a high rate of speed” and a BMW, according to the CHP.
“The driver of the Lexus was unable to maintain the vehicle in its lane,” according to a CHP statement. “The left side of the Lexus struck the right side of a BMW 325i traveling on I-5 southbound south of Sheldon Street in the #2 lane, then veered to the right.”
The Lexus crashed onto the right shoulder of the freeway, went up an embankment and overturned, the CHP reported.
A 26-year-old La Canada man who was riding in the Lexus was ejected and died at the scene. His name was withheld, pending notification of his relatives.
The driver of the BMW, a 39-year-old Beverly Hills man, was not injured, the CHP reported. His name was not released.
The driver of the Lexus, a 27-year-old North Hollywood woman whose name was not immediately released, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, the CHP reported. She suffered minor injuries.
Three southbound freeway lanes were blocked for about four hours while an investigation was conducted.
Anyone with information on the crash was urged to call the Altadena Area CHP office at 626-296-8100.
