Los Angeles, California (September 14, 2025) – Actor and celebrity photographer Brad Everett Young, 46, died late Sunday night after his vehicle was struck by a wrong-way driver on the 134 Freeway, according to statements from his publicist.
Accident Details: Young had just left a movie screening and was driving alone on the freeway when another vehicle, traveling in the wrong direction, collided with his car. Young was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver survived the crash and was taken to a hospital.
Investigation: Wrong-way crashes are among the most catastrophic on the road because they often involve high speeds and head-on impacts. In this case, investigators will be working to determine how and why the other driver entered the freeway traveling in the opposite direction. This process typically involves reviewing traffic camera and surveillance footage from nearby ramps and intersections, analyzing emergency dispatch records, and interviewing witnesses who may have seen the vehicle before the collision.
Accident reconstruction specialists also play a critical role. They can study skid marks, debris patterns, and the position of the vehicles to estimate speeds and points of impact. Event data recorders from the vehicles may reveal steering inputs, braking, and acceleration just before the crash. Investigators may also evaluate road signage, lighting, and potential obstructions to understand whether environmental factors contributed to the driver’s mistake. Because physical and electronic evidence can be lost quickly after a crash scene is cleared or vehicles are towed, early preservation of this information is essential for establishing an accurate timeline of events.
Legal Considerations: Investigators will look closely at whether the driver who survived was impaired, distracted, fatigued, or otherwise operating recklessly, as these factors can shape how responsibility for the crash is determined.
If the surviving driver is found to have been responsible for the accident, Young’s family members may be able to file a civil wrongful death claim.
A wrongful death lawsuit could seek compensation for funeral costs, the loss of financial support or household services, and the profound emotional toll caused by the sudden death of a loved one. These claims may also include the loss of companionship, guidance, or care the deceased provided, which courts recognize as damages.
I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Brad Everett Young.