A routine police chase for a suspected stolen work van took a devastating turn this week, culminating in the death of 36-year-old Erick Puente after he was struck by multiple vehicles on the Arroyo Seco (110) Parkway. County officials, specifically the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, confirmed his identity on Friday as the investigation into the fatal collision continues. It’s a tragic story that highlights just how quickly a high-speed pursuit can escalate into a nightmare scenario.
The whole chaotic incident kicked off around 8:30 p.m. on a Monday evening when Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers first spotted the vehicle, a work van believed to be stolen, in the downtown LA area. What started on city streets soon became a high-stakes chase, moving swiftly towards the 110 Freeway and near the Chinatown area. For several minutes, the pursuit continued northbound, eventually heading into the Highland Park section of the historic parkway.
The chase came to an abrupt, shocking end as the van neared the Avenue 43 exit. Eyewitness accounts and police reports suggest the driver, later identified as Puente, slammed on the brakes and brought the van to a stop right in the northbound lanes. In a desperate, split-second decision, he tried to ditch the vehicle by climbing out of the window. His attempt to escape then led him to scramble toward the freeway’s center divider, hoping to cross into the opposite lanes.
Unfortunately, that frantic dash across the median was his final mistake. As he tried to cross into the southbound traffic, he was hit by oncoming vehicles. Emergency personnel, including officers and paramedics, rushed to the scene immediately, but despite their best efforts, Erick Puente was pronounced dead right there on the parkway. It was a violent end to what began as a property crime.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) was called in to take over the investigation of the crash itself, a standard procedure in these complex situations. CHP Officer Sergio Garcia confirmed that the whole area was shut down—both northbound and southbound lanes—for several hours while investigators worked to document the crash site and clear the area. For commuters in the Highland Park and Pasadena communities, it was a massive headache, with traffic completely rerouted for much of the night, only fully reopening in the early morning hours.
Both the CHP and LAPD are currently deep into their joint investigation, trying to piece together the entire sequence of events. They are meticulously reviewing every piece of available evidence, from dashcam footage and radio communications to forensic details of the collision. The LAPD has acknowledged that pursuits involving suspected stolen vehicles, like this one, are notoriously difficult because the suspects often drive erratically and unpredictably, making instantaneous, life-or-death decisions unavoidable for everyone involved.
As authorities await further evaluations from the Medical Examiner to officially confirm the cause of death, the true mechanics of the crash are still under review. Details about the original theft of the work van and its ownership are still being held back pending the outcome of the full inquiry. This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of how dangerous it can be when someone tries to flee law enforcement at high speeds, often putting themselves, officers, and the general public in extreme peril.
Officials are urging anyone who witnessed the pursuit or the fatal event to come forward and contact either the CHP or LAPD to help close the book on this very unfortunate night on the 110 Parkway.