The California Highway Patrol are searching for the animals who threw a large boulder from an overpass on the 134 freeway in Pasadena Tuesday night.
Christopher Lopez, 23, was killed after a 35-pound boulder struck the windshield of the car being driven by his pregnant wife, Guadalupe Gutierrez. The couple's 4-year-old daughter and Gutierrez's mother were both in the backseat. Lopez was the only passenger to sustain injuries.
The family held a press conference with the CHP Thursday urging witnesses to please come forward with information:
“This was an innocent family driving home,” CHP Lt. Chuck Geletko said. “Because of a careless person or persons, their lives will be forever changed.”
"Even though whoever threw the boulder from the overpass didn’t know who was inside the vehicle, this was an intentional act,” Geletko said.
According to the CHP, at about 8:55pm Tuesday night Gutierrez was driving her 2017 Toyota Corolla in the westbound carpool lane of the 134 freeway. As she approached the Orange Grove overpass the large boulder crashed through her windshield striking her husband in the passenger seat.
She immediately drove to Glendale Adventist Medical Center where Lopez died from his injuries.
CHP officials are reviewing security footage as well as interviewing residents of a homeless encampment in the area to gain leads.
“If somebody saw something. Please help us,” the victim’s father Francisco said urging anyone with information to speak with the CHP.
“This shouldn’t have happened this way,” he said. “He’s a young father who was just with his family.”
“To find his death this way is something very hard for the family,” he added. “… This can’t stay this way.”
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the CHP Altadena Office at 626-296-8100 or 323-259-3200.