One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Driver Killed After His SUV Flies Off 101 Freeway Onto The 405
Photo by G.J. Winterboer via the LAist Featured Photos pool
A man died early this morning after his SUV plunged from the 101 Freeway to the 405 Freeway below in Sherman Oaks.The wreck was reported to authorities around 1:56 am, and Daniel Contreras, 30, was declared dead at the scene, according to City News Service.
Here's how it happened: Contreras was heading west on the 101 Freeway when he slammed into a metal guard rail. The momentum carried the SUV over the guardrail and a concrete barrier. The SUV fell inside the gap between the 101 mainline lanes and a ramp for the southbound 405 transition road.
The SUV flipped over and landed 25 feet below on the northbound 405 freeway, according to a CHP report.
Fortunately, no other vehicles on the 405 freeway slammed in the horrific wreck.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
