CHP said a Kia was traveling at high speed before leaving the 5 Freeway and crashing beneath an overpass.
LOS ANGELES — A driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a car traveling at high speed left the 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights and crashed beneath an overpass, killing a 31-year-old passenger, authorities said.
The crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday on the transition from the northbound 5 Freeway toward the eastbound 10 Freeway. The California Highway Patrol said a white Kia Optima went off the roadway, struck the area beneath an overpass and landed in an embankment. Passenger Guillermo Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene.
CHP said its preliminary investigation indicated the Kia had been traveling at a high rate of speed before it veered off the road. Authorities have not publicly detailed what caused the driver to lose control or disclosed in the reports reviewed what evidence led to the DUI arrest.
The driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital after the crash. Authorities arrested the driver on suspicion of DUI. Rodriguez’s family said the driver was his uncle, but the driver’s name was not released in the reports reviewed.
Bystanders reached the wreck before firefighters arrived and attempted to help the people inside while someone called 911, according to an initial report from the scene. Los Angeles Fire Department crews later worked around the heavily damaged vehicle in the embankment.
The collision prompted the California Highway Patrol to close the freeway transition and issue a SigAlert while emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene. Caltrans crews began taking down the closure about 6:45 a.m., several hours after the crash.
The investigation later took on a more personal dimension when Rodriguez’s family identified him as a father of three. His brother, Marco Rodriguez, said Guillermo had recently turned 31 and leaves behind his wife and children, ages 4, 8 and 9.
Marco Rodriguez said he had seen his brother only a few hours before the crash and struggled to believe he was gone. He described Guillermo Rodriguez as a hardworking father who provided for his family. The brothers also worked together, he said.
The family and Rodriguez’s workplace are now raising money for funeral expenses and support for the relatives he leaves behind. His brother also spoke publicly about the dangers of impaired driving as the family began making funeral arrangements.
The DUI arrest represents an allegation, not a finding of guilt. The available reports did not identify any criminal charges filed against the driver or provide results of toxicology or other impairment testing. CHP’s investigation into the cause of the fatal crash remains ongoing.
Author note: Last updated September 19, 2026.