A boulder that smashed into a car windshield in California, killing a passenger, was intentionally dropped, according to officials.
The California Highway Patrol said someone intentionally pushed the 35-pound boulder off a freeway overpass in Pasadena late Tuesday, March 13, ultimately killing Christopher Lopez, 23.
Lopez’s pregnant wife, Guadalupe Gutierrez, was driving the car but was not injured by the boulder.
The couple’s 4-year-old daughter, sitting in the back seat, was unhurt as well.
“We’re asking for your help. If anybody saw anything, please help us find whoever did this to him. He didn’t deserve this. My daughter didn’t deserve this,” she said.
“This shouldn’t have happened this way. He’s a young father who was just with his family. To find his death this way is something very hard for the family. … This can’t stay this way.”
Authorities said that the act was definitely intentional.
“This was an intentional act. Any prudent person would know that a boulder that size would seriously harm someone driving on the freeway below,” California Highway Patrol Lt. Chuck Geletko said.
“This was an innocent family, driving home. We need help from the public to find the person who committed this atrocious act and prevent this from happening to another family.”
Investigators are working to obtain DNA off the boulder.
Anyone with information should call detectives at (626) 296-8100.
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