(L.A.) Francisco Monterrosa, 29, Died on Highway 138

Case Number: 2025-09747

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 29-year-old Latino male that occurred on Highway 138.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Francisco Monterrosa.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Multiple Blunt-Force Traumatic Injuries

RIP FRANCISCO MONTERROSA ( June 13, 2025)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Friday.

California State Route 138 (SR 138) is an east–west highway that runs through the northern part of Los Angeles County, generally following the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and the western edge of the Mojave Desert. In Los Angeles County, it starts near Interstate 5 south of Gorman and continues east through rural and high desert communities like Lancaster, Palmdale, Littlerock, and Pearblossom.

Most of SR 138 in this region is a two-lane rural highway, serving as a key connector for local traffic and as an alternate route for east–west travel in the Antelope Valley. The highway is notable for passing near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, a popular springtime destination.

SR 138 is heavily traveled between Palmdale and I-15, and there are ongoing projects to widen it and improve safety, especially in the northwest portion of Los Angeles County between I-5 and SR 14. The route is important for mobility and goods movement in the region, and it provides scenic views of the high desert landscape.