Investigators: Car in Sunday Crash That Killed Three Teens in East Pasadena Did Not Plunge From Freeway

Investigators say they have now concluded a car crash that killed three teenaged boys on Michillinda Avenue beneath the 210 Freeway Sunday night did not originate on the freeway.

The crash was reported about 8:27 p.m. Sunday on Michillinda Avenue south of Foothill Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP had initially reported that the vehicle fell onto the street from the nearby Foothill (210) Freeway, based on a report from a witness, but the witness “was mistaken,” CHP Officer Peter Nicholson said.

According to the CHP, a 17-year-old boy was driving a 2005 Honda south on Michillinda Avenue, accompanied by two male passengers, ages 16 and 17, when the crash occurred.

“For unknown reasons at this time, the driver lost control of his vehicle and collided with the raised concrete curb edge,” the CHP reported.

“He continued westbound and collided with the chain-link fence,” the CHP reported. “The vehicle then collided with (a) descending dirt/shrub embankment and rolled over.”

The driver, Andyn Bae, 17, and a passenger, Eric Gullekson, 16, both from Temple City, died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office and the CHP. Bae would have turned 18 on Monday, the coroner’s office reported.

The other 17-year-old boy, passenger Nicholas Torres, 17, from Monterey Park, died at a hospital, the CHP reported.

“It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs were a contributing factor in this traffic crash,” the CHP reported.

Anyone with information on the crash was urged to call the CHP Altadena Area office at 626-296-8100.