Hiram Medina, 'Tattoo Artist' From Van Nuys, Dies in Fiery Crash With 405 Center Divide
An SUV reportedly exploded yesterday night after smashing into a center divider (as well as the post holding up an overpass) on the 405 freeway.
NBC LA The wreckage.
The driver has since been identified as 27-year-old Hiram Medina of Van Nuys, reports NBC LA. And commenters at the LA Daily News say he was a "tattoo artist" with a small son.
Medina was apparently driving a white-and-yellow Chevy Blazer on the 405 South...
... when he hit the Burbank Boulevard bridge around 7:20 p.m., reportedly at a "high speed." The fiery accident caused closures (and miles of stop-and-go traffic) for hours afterward, in both northbound and southbound lanes.
City News Service reports that dozens of firefighters worked to pull Medina from the mangled vehicle as California Highway Patrol officers conducted their investigation.
"That was my Friend and a Great tattoo Artist," says Facebook user Armando Sandoval, calling the victim a "hard worker and great artist and family man." And Jorge Lias, who says he's the victim's brother, writes that Medina "has a kid name aiden."
One witness describes the horrific crash scene in the Daily News comments:
"I drove by few minutes after the accident. The body was not covered yet. I keep thinking about that man. Very sad. He had no chance of survival."
Did you know Medina? Please share below.
[@simone_electra / swilson@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
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