A tragic single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning in West Covina has left one man dead. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) identified the driver as 36-year-old Gilberto Maldonado, a resident of Los Angeles, whose life was taken in a horrific accident on January 25, 2026.

The incident occurred around 4:50 a.m. on the eastbound San Bernardino (10) Freeway, near Via Verde Street. According to CHP officers, Maldonado was behind the wheel of a black Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan when the sequence of tragic events began. Authorities report that he pulled over to the right shoulder of the freeway, for reasons still under investigation. Maldonado then shifted the car into reverse and began driving westbound on the shoulder, heading in the wrong direction.

As the car continued in reverse, it struck a wooden “Watch Downhill Speed” sign before crashing into a metal guardrail. The guardrail penetrated the vehicle and went through the driver’s seat, fatally injuring Maldonado. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

At this time, investigators have not confirmed why Maldonado was driving in reverse on the freeway shoulder. The circumstances leading up to the accident remain unclear, and the California Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into the tragic crash.