Burbank Boulevard near Balboa Boulevard: a Honda Civic left the road on a curve and hit a tree, killing both people inside, on a stretch neighbors call dangerous
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 2, 2026): Johana Portillo Membreno, 35, and Jonathan Garcia Murillo, 25, were killed early Friday, October 2, when the white Honda Civic they were in left the road and struck a tree on Burbank Boulevard near Balboa Boulevard in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, as reported by ABC7 and City News Service. The Encino crash happened at about 2 a.m.
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced both people dead at the scene. Police told ABC7 that the car’s only occupants were a 25-year-old man who was driving and a 35-year-old woman. The Medical Examiner released the names on Saturday and Sunday and did not list their cities of residence. Video from the scene showed the car nearly split in two around the tree.
A witness told a videographer at the scene that he saw the car go around a curve at about 60 mph before it ran off the road, City News Service reported. Another driver told ABC7 that the car was traveling too fast ahead of him on the turn. These are witness accounts; police have not released their findings on speed or other factors.
Residents told ABC7 that this stretch of Burbank Boulevard, where the speed limit is 35 mph, is known for speeding and serious crashes, and one neighbor said he has seen at least 16 crashes at the same spot. The LAPD continues to investigate, and anyone with information can contact the LAPD Valley Traffic Division.
Liability for the Encino Crash on Burbank Boulevard
California Vehicle Code § 22350, the basic speed law, prohibits driving faster than is safe for conditions, and Civil Code § 1714 makes every driver responsible for harm caused by a lack of ordinary care. When a crash happens repeatedly at the same location, Government Code § 835 may also be relevant, because it can make a public entity responsible for a dangerous condition of public property. Based on what has been reported, the questions include:
- Passenger claims: Police said the 35-year-old woman was not driving. A passenger’s family generally may pursue a claim against the responsible driver’s estate and auto insurance, even when the driver also died.
- The curve and the tree: Neighbors described repeated crashes at this spot. Road geometry, signage, lighting and the placement of trees near the curb may be reviewed if a public agency is responsible for the roadway.
- Vehicle ownership: If the Civic was owned by someone other than the driver, Vehicle Code § 17150 can make the owner responsible when the car was driven with permission.
- Speed evidence: The car’s stored crash data and nearby cameras can confirm how fast it was traveling when it reached the curve.
Each family may have its own wrongful death claim under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60. Claims against a city or other public entity follow special rules and much shorter deadlines than claims against a driver.
Steps to Take After an Encino Crash
The California Office of Traffic Safety reports that speed is one of the leading factors in fatal crashes on the state’s roads, and Los Angeles has identified high-injury streets for safety improvements under its Vision Zero program. Families should act early to protect evidence.
- Request the LAPD report: Ask the LAPD Valley Traffic Division for the traffic collision report and case number.
- Document the location: Photos of the curve, signs, lighting and the tree, and records of earlier crashes at the same spot, can be important if road conditions are examined.
- Identify insurance: Gather the auto policy for the Civic and any household policies with uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
- Preserve the vehicle: Ask that the Civic be kept, not salvaged, until it can be inspected and its data downloaded.
Wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, but a claim against the City of Los Angeles or another public entity is generally due within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating the Encino Crash
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Johana Portillo Membreno and Jonathan Garcia Murillo. Important questions remain: Why do neighbors report so many crashes on this curve of Burbank Boulevard near Balboa? And what will the LAPD investigation show about the speed of the Civic before it left the road?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck or pedestrian accident anywhere in California, our personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on October 5, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 2, 2026.
