BURBANK, Calif. — Authorities have identified the man who died in a multi-vehicle collision early Sunday morning on the Golden State (5) Freeway. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the victim as 52-year-old Martin Reyes Gomez, who was pronounced dead at the scene following the violent crash.
The incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. on the northbound lanes of the freeway near Alameda Avenue, when one of the vehicles reportedly began traveling in the wrong direction. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the collision involved multiple vehicles, with at least one overturning from the force of the impact. Preliminary findings indicate that a car heading north was struck head-on by a vehicle traveling south in the northbound lane, causing a chain reaction that involved a third vehicle.
Emergency crews, including CHP officers and paramedics, arrived within minutes of the first reports. Despite their efforts, Gomez was found unresponsive inside his vehicle and was later pronounced deceased at the scene. All vehicles involved remained in place as investigators began documenting the crash site. The freeway was closed for several hours as crews worked to clear debris and examine the wreckage. A Sigalert was issued at 4:28 a.m. and remained in effect until just before 9 a.m., causing significant traffic delays for early commuters.
CHP Officer Shanelle Phillips stated that investigators are examining whether alcohol may have played a role in the crash. However, officials have not yet confirmed which driver may have been impaired. The Medical Examiner’s report listed Gomez’s causes of death as aortic dissection and rupture, compounded by cardiovascular disease, which may have worsened the effects of the collision. Investigators continue to analyze physical evidence, skid marks, and vehicle damage to piece together the full sequence of events.
Authorities are reviewing witness statements and freeway surveillance footage in hopes of identifying how and why the wrong-way vehicle entered the northbound lanes. Wrong-way crashes are often among the deadliest, as opposing vehicles travel at high speeds, leaving little time to react. The CHP emphasized that such incidents are rare but devastating and reminded motorists to stay alert, report erratic drivers, and avoid distractions behind the wheel.
Community members and officials have expressed condolences to Gomez’s family, describing the tragedy as a reminder of the dangers of impaired and inattentive driving. The CHP’s traffic reconstruction team continues its investigation and will release further findings once they are verified. For now, the loss of Martin Reyes Gomez stands as a somber warning about how a single moment of error can lead to irreversible consequences on California’s busy freeways.