Benjamin Appel, 45, was identified as the man killed when his car crashed into the center divider on the southbound 101 Freeway in Studio City early Monday. Good Samaritans tried to rescue him before firefighters extricated him from the burning vehicle.
A 45-year-old man killed in a deadly crash on the 101 Freeway in Studio City has been identified as Benjamin Appel, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner.
Appel died early Monday morning when his silver sedan crashed into the center divider wall on the southbound Hollywood Freeway. The California Highway Patrol reported the crash at 2:14 a.m. near where the 101 splits into the Ventura (134) Freeway, just west of the 170 Freeway interchange.
A witness told the CHP that the car was catching fire after the impact and that bystanders attempted to pull Appel from the vehicle. Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters arrived on scene and performed an extrication to free the driver.
"LAFD performed an extrication of the patient," LAFD spokesman Jamie Stewart said. "One approximately 60-year-old male patient has been determined deceased and beyond medical intervention."
The medical examiner later confirmed the victim's identity as Benjamin Appel and ruled the cause of death as blunt-force injuries sustained in the crash.
The crash triggered a SigAlert from the CHP that closed all southbound lanes of the 101 through Studio City. The closure lasted roughly three hours, with all lanes reopening shortly after 5:30 a.m.
About 28 firefighters responded to the scene, along with tow operators and CHP units who managed traffic and cleared debris. No firefighters were injured during the operation, according to the LAFD.
The CHP is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. Officials have not yet determined why Appel's vehicle struck the center divider wall. No further details were immediately available.
The crash was reported as incident #0124 by the LAFD, which dispatched crews at 2:14 a.m. Drivers were urged to seek alternate routes while the freeway remained shut and to prepare for residual delays even after traffic resumed.
This article was generated with AI assistance.