Carson, CA (January 19, 2026) – Matthew Hellums, 38, was identified as the man killed in a collision between a minivan and a car on the Gardena (91) Freeway in Carson on Monday.
Incident Details: According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a crash was reported at 12:38 a.m. on Monday on the westbound Gardena Freeway just west of Central Avenue.
The collision was between a minivan and a car. Hellums was pronounced dead at the scene. One injured person was taken to the hospital.
Investigation: The CHP is continuing to investigate the collision on the westbound Gardena (91) Freeway near Central Avenue that killed Matthew Hellums.
Because few details have been released so far, investigators will likely focus on determining how the minivan and car collided. They will work to understand the vehicles’ positions in the roadway, the sequence of events leading up to impact, and whether speed, impairment, or driver inattention played a role.
CHP will also review physical evidence from the scene, witness statements, and any available video footage to establish a clear timeline and determine fault.
Legal Considerations: With limited information available, liability will depend on what the investigation ultimately shows about how the crash occurred and whether either driver acted negligently. If a driver is found to have caused the collision through unsafe driving, civil liability may apply for the resulting death and injuries.
For Hellums’s family to bring a wrongful death claim, the investigation would typically need to show that the other driver caused the crash through negligence, such as speeding, distraction, or an unsafe lane change. If Hellums was the at-fault driver, his family generally would not have a wrongful death claim against the other motorist unless that driver also contributed to the collision.
The injured survivor may also have a personal injury claim related to medical treatment and recovery.
My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Matthew Hellums during this difficult time, and we hope the injured individual makes a full recovery.
Source: MyNewsLA