A 39-year-old man who was struck by a vehicle on a freeway transition road in the Boyle Heights area and may be a homicide victim was identified Friday by the coroner’s office as Martin Lopez.
Lopez was “situated prone within the roadway” about 4:55 a.m. Thursday, when he was struck by a Lexus sedan on the transition road from the northbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway to the northbound Hollywood (101) Freeway, north of Marietta Street, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Roberto Gomez and the coroner’s office.
Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the coroner’s office.
Investigators said they believe Lopez may have been the victim of a homicide just before being struck on the transition road from the eastbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway to the eastbound Pomona (60) Freeway “resulting in the victim falling and/or being deposited onto Interstate 5 northbound,” Gomez said.
A “comprehensive investigation” was underway to determine what happened just prior to Lopez being struck,” Gomez said.
The transition road was closed until about 8:30 a.m.
Anyone with information about the fatality was urged to call (213) 744-2331 to speak with Officer R. Hines at the CHP’s Central Los Angeles Area Office.
Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.