By Mary O’KEEFE

Guadalupe Gutierrez, 21, was driving with her family on Tuesday night westbound on the Ventura (134) Freeway when a boulder suddenly crashed through the passenger side of her vehicle’s windshield. Her husband, Christopher Lopez, 23, was in the front passenger seat and was struck by the boulder. Gutierrez drove immediately to Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Her husband, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

California Highway Patrol held a press conference on Thursday (March 15) to ask for the public’s help with any information concerning the incident.

“Due to the circumstances, we believe that a person or persons threw the large boulder from the Orange Grove Boulevard overcrossing onto the 134 Freeway below,” said Lt. Chuck Geletko. “This was an intentional act.”

He added the person or persons who threw the boulder may not have known who was in the vehicle that was struck.

“Any prudent person would know that a boulder that size would seriously harm someone driving on the freeway below,” he said.

Officer Chris Cassidy is leading the investigation out of the CHP Altadena office. He said the boulder was about 12” x 12” and about three inches thick and weighs about 35 pounds.

The Orange Grove Boulevard over cross has sidewalks on both sides and each side has a tall fence that is curved inward. There does not appear to be any boulders near the area. When asked if investigators thought someone had brought the it to the location and thrown it up and over the tall fencing, Cassidy said that was part of their investigation

“We know for sure it came from the over crossing,” Cassidy said. “How it came down is still under investigation.”

Lopez’s family was at the press conference on Thursday.

“About five months ago me and my husband decided to have a second child. Two weeks ago we found out I was pregnant,” Gutierrez stated fighting back tears. “And now he is gone … We are asking for your help … Whoever did this to him – he didn’t deserve this.”

Geletko asked that anyone who may have seen something suspicious on Tuesday, or saw anything pertaining to the Orange Grove Boulevard over cross and the 134, are asked to contact the CHP Altadena Station at (626) 296-8100.