A 22-year-old man was fatally struck by a semitruck driver on a California freeway as he changed a tire beside his girlfriend. The driver fled the scene, and authorities are searching for leads. The victim's family mourns the loss, especially after their mother's recent death.
On Friday evening, around 11:20 p.m., Alejandro Covarrubias, 22, pulled over with his girlfriend on southbound Interstate 5, south of Templin Highway in Castaic, California—about 60 miles north of Los Angeles—after suffering a flat tire. As Covarrubias worked on the tire, a tractor-trailer struck him and the vehicle, killing him instantly. His girlfriend, standing just feet away, witnessed the collision.
Covarrubias's sister, Ana Iscoa, shared details with ABC affiliate KABC. "I feel so bad for her, but I'm also very grateful because he wasn't alone when he passed," she said. "He reached out his hand for her." The family is reeling from the tragedy, coming just eight months after their mother's death from a brain aneurysm. Iscoa described her brother as a "joyful spirit" in a GoFundMe post, noting his roles as a devoted brother, son, godfather, and caregiver to the elderly. "My brother was only 22 years old, but in that short time, he touched so many lives," she wrote. "He was just a baby. He didn't get to live his life, and he was so sweet."
The California Highway Patrol reported that the semitruck driver sped away after the crash. Investigators believe the vehicle may have borne an Amazon decal, though this detail remains unconfirmed. The family seeks justice and the driver's apprehension.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the CHP Newhall Area Office at (661) 600-1600 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).