71-Year-Old Taxi Driver Dies after a Fatal Wrong-way Collision

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 27, 2023) – Early Friday morning, police responded to a wrong-way collision that claimed the life of Ken Balayev. The incident happened on May 26th, shortly after 2:50 p.m. in the northbound of 110 Freeway at Exposition Boulevard. According to the CHP, a Toyota Prius taxi driven by 71-year-old Balayev, a Chevy Cruz driven by 23-year-old Samantha Molina, and several other vehicles were involved in the collision. Upon investigation, the officers have learned that Molina was travelling southbound in the northbound lanes and collided head-on with Balayev. Following the collision, Molina and her passenger were both extricated from the Chevy and a passenger of Balayev was also extricated. Officials pronounced 71-year-old Ken Balayev dead at the scene. Meanwhile, medics transported the other three victims to a local hospital for treatment of major injuries. Afterward, crews shut down the northbound 110 Freeway between Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and Interstate 10. Traffic was blocked for hours. Crews later reopened the road by 6:00 a.m. Samantha Molina was arrested after the crash but her charges have not been disclosed.
No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during this delicate moment. The team at Sweet James sends their deepest condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of Ken Balayev.
Losing a loved one due to someone’s recklessness leaves a lasting impact on those left behind. Let their wrongful death lawyers at Sweet James help you during this trying time. They have 20 years of experience in the field, and they will fight by your side to achieve justice and maximum compensation. They strongly believe that each client’s case is unique that is why they give it their full individual attention. Call their office today at (800) 900-0000 to arrange your free and confidential case evaluation. For more accident news, click here.