Teen Killed, 2 Injured In 5 Freeway Crash

DOWNEY, CA — A 17-year-old boy died over the weekend morning and two others were hurt when the car they were riding in drove off the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Downey, struck a light pole, and flipped over rolling 200 yards down an embankment.

Two passengers, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected from the car during the crash, killing Jaylen Connish of Compton.

Jaylen was a student at Warren High School, and his sudden death rattled the community.

"Our Downey Unified family is heartbroken that we have lost one of our Warren High School students, a young man with a bright future ahead of him who has been such a big part of our Downey Unified family. Our prayers are with our two students who are currently fighting and, as a Downey Unified family, we will rally around them and their families to support them during this extremely challenging time," the Downey Unified School District said in a written statement.

The crash happened just before 11 p.m. Saturday on the southbound Santa Ana Freeway north of the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway, according to California Highway Patrol Officer E. Torres.

The driver, Dajon Hancox, 17, of Compton was driving the 2010 Altima when the car "veered to the right and collided into a raised asphalt curb and then traveled off the roadway into a metal light pole," Torres said. "The Nissan continued down a dirt embankment and rolled several times."

Hancox was the only person wearing a seatbelt, the officer said. Two passengers in the car were ejected from the vehicle.

All three males were taken to St. Francis Medical Center with major injuries, Torres said.

A social media account for the Warren High School athletics department noted the three victims in the crash were all members of the school's football team.

"For anyone who knew (Connish), they could attest to the fact that he was a remarkable young man," according to a Warren High School statement. "He always had a smile on his face, and that smile truly lifted your spirit. He was a tremendous athlete and an even better young man. He signed with Western New Mexico where he planned on continuing his football career and studying business and accounting."

Officers did not release the name or other details about the second passenger, who remains unconscious in the hospital, Torres said.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The crash investigation continued and anyone with information was asked to call Officer Torres at 562-868-0503.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.