Last Updated on August 27, 2018 by CCAR Staff
A motorist was killed Monday, Aug. 27, when he fled from a solo crash on the southbound 57 Freeway in Diamond Bar, tried to get a ride on a truck, fell and got struck by another vehicle on a nearby street.
Paramedics pronounced Javier Jose Velasquez Grimaldo, 24, of Rowland Heights dead at the scene around 4:40 a.m., according to Sarah Ardalani, spokeswoman for the coroner’s office.
The victim was driving a Mazda3 along the 57, south of Brea Canyon Road, when he lost control and hit the center divider, with the vehicle overturning at around 4 a.m., said California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez. The car came to rest on the right shoulder.
“As soon as the car stops, he gets out and runs off to Brea Canyon Road,” Jimenez said.
CHP Officer Jeremy Tolen said Velasquez Grimaldo made his way to a parked truck and tried to get in. The truck driver, a 28-year-old Apple Valley man, was napping while waiting for his wife.
The truck driver heard knocking, opened the driver side door and saw a man who told him he needed a ride to get away from a crash, according to Tolen. The truck driver was startled, told the man no and started to drive away. Tolen said the truck driver feared for his safety.
“He heard pounding on the passenger side door. He did not stop,” Tolen said.
At some point, Tolen said Velasquez Grimaldo climbed onto the moving truck and may have either fallen or jumped.
The CHP is investigating whether he was hit by another vehicle. Officers didn’t find evidence that showed the truck struck Velasquez-Garimaldo, according to Tolen.
Once the truck entered the southbound 57 freeway, Tolen said the driver pulled over the shoulder and called 911 to report that a man tried to get into his truck.
Brea Canyon Road was closed between Diamond Bar Boulevard and Tonner Canyon Road for two hours.
Anyone with information about the solo hit-and-run on the freeway is asked to call Officer C. Banuelos, at the CHP Baldwin Park area office at 626-338-1164. Anyone with information about the incident on Brea Canyon Road is asked to call Officer Justin LeBlanc at the CHP Santa Fe Springs area office at 562-868-0503.
