Los Angeles County, CA — February 4, 2025, Byung Chul Kim was killed in a truck accident at about 11 a.m. on State Route 60/Pomona Freeway.

Authorities said a multi-vehicle crash occurred in the eastbound lanes of the highway near the Hacienda Boulevard exit. News reports indicated at least one semi-truck was involved in the accident.

Byung Chul Kim, 65, was killed in the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I hear about a multi-vehicle crash on a major freeway involving a semi-truck, my first question is, “What chain of events led to the vehicles colliding?” Many people assume that highway crashes are just a matter of driver mistakes, but in my experience, wrecks like this often involve issues with traffic flow, speed and driver reaction times that require a deeper investigation.

One of the first things investigators should determine is how the crash started. Did one vehicle suddenly stop or change lanes, forcing other drivers to react? Was the semi-truck unable to stop in time, or was it struck by another vehicle? Reviewing ECM (black box) data from the truck and any available dashcam or traffic camera footage could help clarify how the wreck unfolded.

Another key factor is whether congestion played a role. State Route 60 is a heavily traveled freeway, especially near the Hacienda Boulevard exit, where merging traffic can create unpredictable slowdowns. If traffic suddenly came to a stop and the truck driver didn’t have enough space to react, that could explain how the crash escalated.

Visibility and road conditions should also be examined. Was there construction or debris in the roadway that contributed to the collision? Were weather conditions making it difficult for drivers to see what was happening ahead? I’ve seen cases where even a small obstruction in the road led to a chain reaction of crashes.

At this stage, too little is known to determine exactly what led to this wreck, but that’s why a full investigation is necessary. Examining traffic patterns, vehicle data and roadway conditions will be key to understanding how this crash happened, provided much-needed answers for the victim's family.