A man who appeared to be about to jump from an overpass has caused hours of traffic congestion on the Santa Ana (405) Freeway in Huntington Beach on Thursday. According to Officer Duane Graham of the California Highway Patrol, the police were contacted about a man who was at the overpass on McFadden Avenue at approximately two o’clock on Thursday afternoon. In accordance with Graham’s statement, the police have blocked off traffic in the southbound lanes as well as the toll lanes on the northwest side.
During the time that the authorities are attempting to talk the man down, the closure will remain in place indefinitely.
On other news, Eyewitness News has learned that the murder-suicide investigation into the deaths of an infant and a couple discovered in three separate locations in Los Angeles County began when the woman allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death. Danielle Cherakiyah Johnson, 34, allegedly murdered her live-in fiancé at their Woodland Hills apartment around 3:40 a.m., then fled with her two daughters, who had observed the homicide, according to investigators.
The two girls were subsequently allegedly coerced from her vehicle in the midst of the 405 Freeway in Westchester. According to investigators, the 8-month-old was being held by the 9-year-old older daughter when the two were ejected from the SUV and struck the road. The infant was subsequently struck by a vehicle on the freeway and pronounced deceased at the scene after the girl lost control of the infant.
Johnson subsequently traveled to Redondo Beach, where she perished in a high-speed collision involving her Porsche SUV and a tree. Johnson reportedly cohabitated in Woodland Hills for a number of years with Jaelen Chaney, 29, and the two had been romantically involved, according to sources. She was in the midst of the divorce proceedings with the father of her nine-year-old daughter. As of yet, it has not been determined by authorities whether Chaney was the biological father of the infant who perished in the freeway collision.
The night before Chaney was fatally stabbed, neighbors reported hearing a raucous argument emanating from a unit in the building during the middle of the night. A 26-year-old woman who resides in the building adjacent to the apartment reported witnessing a gory scene on Monday morning.
Authorities believe Johnson, accompanied by her two daughters, an 8-month-old infant and a 9-year-old, damaged the apartment gate as they fled the site of the fatal stabbing. Investigators suspect that at approximately 4:30 a.m., Johnson forcibly exited the vehicle carrying her two children from the dark-colored Porsche Cayenne as they traveled northbound on the 405 Freeway in the Westchester vicinity.
A vehicle collided with the infant, who was subsequently pronounced deceased at the location. 911 was dialed by motorists who discovered the children on the freeway near Centinela Avenue. As the only survivor, the elder girl was conveyed to a medical facility. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has taken custody of her at this time.
According to sources who spoke with Eyewitness News, the 9-year-old girl witnessed the homicide in Woodland Hills. The Highway Patrol has requested the public’s assistance in verifying specifics regarding the interstate collision. Those who may have passed through the vicinity during that period were urged to return and examine the dash cams.
“If anyone else was in the area, northbound 405 at Centinela Avenue approximate 4:30 (a.m.), we’d appreciate if you could call with any information,” according to CHP Officer Isabel Diaz. The mother then crashed her vehicle into a tree around 5:00 a.m. in Redondo Beach while exceeding 100 mph, according to sources. Death was officially declared at the location.
Persons who possess any knowledge pertaining to the occurrence on the 405 Freeway are strongly encouraged to contact CHP Detective E. Kim of the Southern Division Major Crimes Unit at (323) 644-9550, during regular business hours. After hours, the tip line can be reached at (323) 259-3200.