Burbank, CA - Joseph Aguilar, 18, Killed in Pedestrian Crash on Southbound Golden State Freeway

Burbank, CA (August 23, 2026) - Just after midnight on August 23, an 18-year-old man was struck and killed on the southbound Golden State Freeway in Burbank.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Joseph Aguilar was struck by a vehicle at about 12:45 a.m. on the southbound freeway, just north of Alameda Avenue.

He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The CHP has not released the make or model of the vehicle involved, and has not said whether the driver stopped.

No additional information surrounding the crash has been released.

The crash happened in Los Angeles County, on a stretch of the freeway that carries heavy traffic through Burbank at all hours.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

What to Do After a Fatal Freeway Pedestrian Accident in California

Can the family act before the CHP finishes its investigation?
Yes. A civil claim runs on a separate track from the traffic investigation. Waiting for the agency to finish can cost the family evidence.

What can a wrongful death claim cover?
Funeral and burial expenses, the financial support the family expected, and the loss of love, companionship, and comfort.

What does "no additional information released" actually mean?
It means the CHP has not published its reconstruction yet. The family can still request the traffic collision report and preserve independent evidence in the meantime.

What gets examined in a freeway pedestrian case?
Vehicle speed and braking data, lighting and sightlines on that stretch of roadway, whether the driver remained at the scene, and whether other vehicles were involved.

Does being on a freeway end the family's claim?
No. California applies pure comparative fault. A family may recover a reduced share even when the person who died is found partly responsible.

What is the filing deadline?
Wrongful death claims in California must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (CCP 377.60). For a death on August 23, 2026, that deadline falls on August 23, 2028.

Contact Our Burbank Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Being told almost nothing after losing an 18-year-old is its own kind of injury, and families in that position are usually the last to learn what happened.

The Law Offices of Christian Contreras has recovered more than $200 million for clients, including a $5 million wrongful death settlement, and our Burbank wrongful death lawyers take cases to trial rather than settling them quietly when an agency stops explaining itself.

Freeway scenes are cleared within hours and vehicle event data can be overwritten in the weeks that follow, so a preservation demand needs to go out early.

We are paid only if we recover for the family, and never before.

Why Injured Clients Trust Christian Contreras Law

• $200M+ recovered for clients
• More than $30M recovered in 2025 alone
• Takes cases to trial with 7+ jury trials each year
• Bilingual representation in English and Spanish
• Featured by ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and Telemundo
• Perfect 5.0 Star Client Rating

Ask Us to Find Out What the CHP Has Not Released, Call (866) 836-6588

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.