Erick Puente Identified as Man Killed During Police Chase on 110 Parkway Traffic on the **110 Parkway* ground to a halt Monday night after a chaotic police pursuit ended in tragedy when a fleeing suspect was fatally struck while attempting to cross the freeway’s median. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner
has identified the man as **36-year-old Erick Puente**, whose actions set off a dangerous chain of events that brought parts of the city to a standstill.According to the **Los Angeles Police Department**, the incident began around **8:30 p.m.** when officers in **downtown Los Angeles** spotted a **suspected stolen work van**.
When they attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver—later identified as Puente—refused to stop, sparking a pursuit that wound through **Chinatown** and into **Highland Park**. The chase moved northbound along the 110, with multiple patrol units following at a distance as traffic thickened during the evening commute Near **Avenue 43**, Puente suddenly **stopped the van in active lanes**,
causing officers and nearby drivers to brake abruptly. Witnesses say he then **jumped out of the vehicle and ran toward the freeway divider**, apparently trying to flee on foot. Within seconds, Puente was **struck by several passing vehicles**, suffering catastrophic injuries. Paramedics responded immediately, but he was **pronounced dead at the scene**.
The crash led to a **full closure of the northbound 110 lanes** for several hours as investigators documented the scene and cleared debris. No officers or civilians were injured during the pursuit.Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as they review dashcam and traffic camera footage to reconstruct the final moments of the chase. Meanwhile, commuters and witnesses alike were left shaken by the sudden and tragic end to what began as a routine stolen vehicle stop in downtown Los Angeles.
