Fatal accident snarls 405 Freeway through the Westside [Updated]

A crash early Sunday morning on the northbound 405 Freeway killed one man and temporarily shut down most lanes, causing moderate traffic backups.

At least two vehicles were involved in the collision around 5:30 a.m. south of the Culver Boulevard exit, said Officer Jose Nunez of the California Highway Patrol. A man, 30 to 35 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. It was not immediately known how many others were involved in the crash.

[Updates, 3:45 p.m.: Authorities identified the man who died as Brandon David Brown, 31, of Compton. Brown, who was alone in his car, was driving north in his white Toyota Tercel when he hit the back of a dark-colored SUV. It was not clear what led to the crash. The driver of the SUV fled without stopping to help Brown, CHP officials said.]

 A SigAlert was issued, and all but one northbound lane remained closed until 9:46 a.m. By midmorning, traffic was slowly recovering, Nunez said.

-- Victoria Kim

Comments

[ToneBone]

"THE GOOD DIE YOUNG" RIP.B.BROWN

[beancounter]

Is this the same "Brandon David Brown, 31, of Compton" who drove the Infiniti that killed CHP Officer Ortiz on June 9th?

[bb]

same "Brandon David Brown, 31, of Compton" that was driving the Infinity sedan that struck and subsequently killed CHP officer Phillip Ortiz on June 9? Odd....

[yvette]

no this not the same brandon david brown 31 of compton that was involved in the killings of the motorcycle cop. this is the brandon david brown that was involved in a fatal car accident on father's dat at about 530 am. yes on the 405 but he was driving a white tercel, in the car pool land and struck someone in a dark colored suv who was for no apparent reason parked and stopped in the car pool lane. so people lets please get all of facts correct before we make ass ourselves, and those who are no longer with us. R.I.P BRANDON BABY.

[JRivera]

Very likely be the same guy... same name, same age, same city, same freeway, same area of the 405 (Palms/Culver City,) same type of crash (plows into SUVs.) Maybe this is why there isn't any additional info anywhere on the investigation of Officer Ortiz's killing. Almost seems as if he had been trying to off himself, no?