24-year-old Jake Huard killed in Multi-Car Accident on 134 Freeway

A devastating accident on the eastbound Ventura (134) Freeway in Glendale resulted in the death of a 24-year-old man early Saturday morning. Authorities reported that the fatal incident occurred after the man exited the passenger seat of a vehicle and was subsequently struck by a speeding car.

The incident was first reported at 11:41 p.m. on Friday as a stalled vehicle in the No. 2 lane of the freeway, located west of Pacific Avenue. However, upon arrival, officers discovered that the situation had escalated into a serious two-vehicle collision. Officer V. Franco, who is handling the investigation, detailed the sequence of events leading to the tragedy.

According to Officer Franco, a silver Mitsubishi was stationary in the No. 2 lane for reasons still under investigation. The right front passenger of the Mitsubishi exited the vehicle while it was stopped. At the same time, a black Mazda was traveling eastbound in the same lane at speeds exceeding 65 mph, despite the light traffic conditions. The Mazda collided with the rear of the stationary Mitsubishi, and the impact caused the front of the Mazda to strike the individual who had exited the vehicle.

The passenger, identified by the Medical Examiner’s Office as Jake Huard, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the 2015 Mitsubishi, a 19-year-old woman from Pasadena who was not wearing a seatbelt, sustained major injuries. The driver of the 2021 Mazda, a 22-year-old man from El Monte, suffered minor injuries.

Following the collision, the California Highway Patrol closed all eastbound lanes of the Ventura Freeway around midnight to investigate the accident. The freeway was reopened to traffic at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday.

The circumstances leading up to the vehicle’s malfunction and the exact reasons for the passenger’s exit are still under investigation. The tragic incident underscores the critical importance of vehicle safety and the dangers of freeway travel. The community is mourning the loss of Jake Huard, and thoughts are with the injured individuals as they recover from the incident.