Nov. 18, 2019
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner is asking for the public’s help to identify a woman who died in a freeway car crash 20 years ago.
On the evening of Nov. 17, 1999, a woman was driving a maroon-colored 1985 Mitsubishi Galant when it became disabled in the number three lane of the southbound 101 Freeway at Western Avenue.
The disabled car was then struck from behind by another vehicle. As a result, the Mitsubishi Galant sustained major damage. Paramedics were called and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene at 11 p.m.
Due to the extent of a fire that was caused by the collision, the woman’s body was unrecognizable.
When authorities attempted to identify the woman through the car license plate, they discovered the person it was registered to had sold the car a few months prior. Additionally, the car seller no longer had information on who they sold the vehicle to. Moreover, the buyer of the vehicle never updated their information with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Since the fatal car crash, the woman has only been named as Jane Doe #49. The department would like to uncover her true identity.
The woman was believed to be between 18 and 35 years old. Her height may have been from 5’0 to 5’6 and she weighed 146 lbs. Her race, hair and eye color are unknown.
At the time she was found, the woman had on a necklace with a clear Hershey Kiss-shaped pendant with a twisted yellow metal chain. Additionally, she wore a yellow metal Claddagh ring with a clear heart-shaped stone and clear round stone. See below for photos.
Anyone with information about the ID of the decedent is asked to contact the Identifications Unit at (323) 343-0754.
Please reference coroner case no. 1999-07845 during the call.
Media Contact:
Sarah Ardalani
Public Information Officer
(323) 343-0783