Costa Mesa man, 21, hit and killed by car on 55 Freeway
Authorities identified a pedestrian struck and killed by a car on the 55 Freeway late Thursday as Jose Leyva Sanchez, 21, of Costa Mesa.
Sanchez was hit at 10:39 p.m. on the southbound freeway north of Warner Avenue in Santa Ana. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Orange County coroner’s office.
Sanchez and a 19-year-old man whom authorities did not identify ran across the northbound lanes, jumped over the center divider and ran across the southbound lanes, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Florentino Olivera.
The 19-year-old made it to the southbound shoulder safety, but a Toyota Camry hit Sanchez just before he made it to the shoulder, Olivera said.
Investigators said Sanchez and the other man did not have a car at the scene.
Sanchez’s family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses. As of Tuesday morning, the web page gofundme.com/2jfbknm4 had raised $505.
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
