Eric Linares is begging the public to help find the driver who killed his fiancée, 43-year-old Erika De La Riva, after a high-speed rear-end collision on a Glendale freeway sent their car into a violent rollover and left her fatally exposed to oncoming traffic.
At a Glance
- A white or silver pickup rear-ended the couple at high speed, then fled.
- De La Riva was ejected despite wearing a buckled seatbelt; she was struck by passing cars.
- CHP has dash-cam video from nearby vehicles and is asking for tips.
- Why it matters: The driver remains unidentified, and Linares says he is desperate for closure.
Crash Details
Linares told News Of Los Angeles that he and De La Riva had just left a family dinner and were traveling on the freeway when the pickup slammed into them from behind. The impact forced their car into the guardrail and triggered multiple rolls.
“So we’re both wearing seatbelts. After the vehicle came to a complete stop, after the rolling, and I looked to my right, she was no longer there,” Linares said. “The seatbelt was buckled. It was still buckled. However, the seat had reclined backwards, I believe from the impact.”
Once the car stopped, Linares realized De La Riva had been thrown onto the roadway. Because he was trapped inside, he could only watch as other vehicles approached.
Good Samaritan Attempted Rescue
A truck driver who witnessed the aftermath braved traffic to help.
“The truck driver came across all lanes,” Linares recalled. “I remember the truck driver flashing the vehicle, flashing the incoming cars with his flashlight. That’s when I noticed that my fiancé was on the road, where she was fatally struck by incoming vehicles, as well, too.”
California Highway Patrol officers eventually freed Linares from the wreckage.
Investigation Status
- The hit-and-run vehicle is described as a white or silver pickup truck.
- CHP has obtained dash-cam footage from cars in the area that night.
- Investigators have not released a license plate or suspect description.
How to Help
Anyone who saw the crash or who has information about the pickup is urged to contact the California Highway Patrol.
Linares says sharing any detail, no matter how small, could help detectives identify the driver and give his family a measure of justice.
Key Takeaways
- A single violent collision turned a routine drive into a deadly chain-reaction.
- Despite wearing seatbelts, the force of the crash ejected De La Riva from the vehicle.
- Video evidence exists, but police still need public assistance to identify the fleeing motorist.
