Chaz Castillo Obituary, Death; A tragic overnight crash along the 101 Freeway in Encino has claimed the life of a 19-year-old man, following a devastating chain-reaction collision involving multiple vehicles.
Authorities from the California Highway Patrol confirmed that the fatal incident occurred in the early hours of the morning on the northbound lanes near White Oak Avenue. The situation began around 1:48 a.m. when a vehicle reportedly crashed into the center divider and became stalled in the roadway.
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Moments later, a second car traveling at high speed slammed into the disabled vehicle from behind, intensifying the situation. As the aftermath unfolded, two individuals were seen outside their vehicles on the freeway, attempting to assess the damage.
In a heartbreaking turn, a third vehicle then crashed into the scene, striking one of the individuals standing on the roadway. The impact triggered further collisions, with two additional vehicles crashing into the growing pileup—bringing the total number of cars involved to five.
The victim, identified as Chaz Castillo by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials confirmed that no other injuries were reported despite the scale of the crash.
Investigators say the exact cause of the initial collision remains unclear, but they are exploring the possibility of driving under the influence (DUI) as a contributing factor.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of high-speed driving and the risks associated with exiting vehicles on active highways, especially during nighttime conditions.
Authorities continue to investigate the crash as they work to determine the full sequence of events that led to the fatal outcome.