UPDATE: The driver's been identified as 20-year-old Richard Pananian of Burbank. Police say he was not wearing a seat-belt. No other injuries were reported.

A 20-year-old man died Friday in a high-speed rollover crash on the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway that propelled him onto a 20-foot-tall freeway sign, authorities said.

The crash that killed Burbank resident Richard Pananian happened about 7 a.m. near Colorado Boulevard and the Ventura (134) Freeway interchange.

Pananian, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected when his Ford compact collided with another vehicle and rolled over several times, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The momentum flung him 20 to 30 feet in the air onto the walkway of the Colorado Boulevard freeway sign.

"It's something I've never seen...they had to use a ladder to climb up to the body..." - Rick Dickert Man killed in 5...

Authorities covered the body, which remained there for about three hours. About 10 a.m., the CHP closed the freeway for around 20 minutes in both directions while firefighters removed the body.


"Driving at a high rate of speed, not wearing (a) seatbelt, and rolling over ... people get ejected out of cars like that,'' CHP Officer Edgar Figueroa said.

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