Inset: Alejandro Covarrubias (GoFundMe). Background: Interstate 5, south of the Templin Highway in Castaic, California (Google Maps).
California authorities are on the hunt for the driver who fatally struck a young man, Alejandro Covarrubias, as he was changing a tire dangerously close to speeding traffic. This tragic incident unfolded near Castaic, approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles, late Friday night.
According to a press release from the California Highway Patrol, the accident occurred around 11:20 p.m. on Interstate 5, just south of Templin Highway. Covarrubias, who was only 22 years old, lost his life in this senseless hit-and-run. The heart-wrenching accident was also confirmed through a GoFundMe campaign set up in his memory.
His sister, Ana Iscoa, shared with KABC, a local ABC affiliate, that Covarrubias and his girlfriend encountered a flat tire and wisely pulled over to address the issue. Yet, as he attempted to change the tire, a tractor-trailer collided with both him and their vehicle, tragically ending his life. His girlfriend, mere feet away, bore witness to the devastating scene.
In her grief, Iscoa expressed sorrow and gratitude, stating, “I feel so bad for her, but I’m also very grateful because he wasn’t alone when he passed. He reached out his hand for her.”
Adding to the family’s heartache, Iscoa revealed that their mother had passed away just eight months prior due to a brain aneurysm. The family is now fervently seeking justice and hopes the driver responsible is found and held accountable.
Reflecting on her brother’s untimely death, Iscoa emotionally shared with KABC, “He was just a baby. He didn’t get to live his life, and he was so sweet.”
She described her brother in the GoFundMe as a “joyful spirit.”
“My brother was only 22 years old, but in that short time, he touched so many lives,” she wrote. “He was a devoted brother, son, godfather, cousin, grandson, nephew, and boyfriend. As a caregiver, he dedicated himself to helping the elderly, always putting others before himself.”
Troopers reportedly said the tractor-trailer may have had an Amazon decal on it, but they were still trying to confirm those details.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the CHP Newhall Area Office at (661) 600-1600. People who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
