Camp Pendleton Marines Among 5 Killed In 5 Freeway Crash In Downey

DOWNEY, CA — Authorities this week identified three of the four people killed in a single-vehicle crash on the southbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Downey.

All four were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that occurred about 2:30 a.m. Saturday north of the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

On Monday, the Los Angeles County coroner's office identified three of those killed as Daniel Nichols, 26, Joshua Moore Jr., 27, and Rodrigo Zermeno Gomez, 21. The name of the fourth victim was withheld, pending notification of relatives.

Three of the victims were Marines based at Camp Pendleton, KCAL reported, citing information from base officials.

Authorities believe that the crash occurred after the driver of a Dodge Challenger lost control of their vehicle for an unknown reason and hit a guard rail on the side of the freeway before slamming into the wall beneath the Lemonran Avenue pedestrian bridge, according to KCAL.

The force of the collision ``caused the vehicle to split in two, subsequently ejecting the two rear passengers onto the right shoulder," said a statement from California Highway Patrol.

KCAL reported all were ejected during the crash.

City News Service