[ElkGroveDan]

Look at a map -- Hastings was rushing due South, toward LAX at 4:30AM.

If he knew his way around I seriously doubt he would be taking Highland south from Hollywood on his way to the Airport -- especially if he was in a hurry. He would have gotten on the 101 and taken it to the 110 which would drop him right at LAX -- moreover he could hit 80 or 90 on the freeway that time of night.

[a fool in paradise]

He could’ve been tripping his balls off on drugs while joy riding late at night. Anything is a possibility.

[LyinLibs]

Normal people “take the freeway to the airport.”

However, if you’ve just emailed friends saying “the FBI is investigating me” and “ I need to go off the radar awhile,” you’re not dealing with normal circumstances.

If FBI is following and/or watching you, and you’re trying to make it to the airport at 4:30am when you’re almost “the only vehicle on the road,” you might not head for the almost-empty freeway where you’d stick out like a sore thumb from the ground AND air.

[bd476]

Agree. That’s a very unusual route for someone to take to get to LAX, especially at that hour. If he needed to get there quickly, the freeway is much better plus his speeding through Hollywood would have been less likely to arouse the attention of LEO who are always out and about in that area because of all the studio production shops and entryways on Highland and in the the general vicinity.

Just looked at it again and it looks like he first spun out and around 360 before impact/explosion.

Southbound Highland is not a safe road to speed on especially as you approach Melrose Ave.

[VerySadAmerican]

Maybe he was taking side and back streets for a reason.

[Windflier]

If he knew his way around I seriously doubt he would be taking Highland south from Hollywood on his way to the Airport -- especially if he was in a hurry. He would have gotten on the 101 and taken it to the 110 which would drop him right at LAX

I've driven from Hollywood to LAX hundreds of times. Anyone who grew up in L.A. proper knows that Hastings' route to LAX via Highland Avenue is one of the most well worn routes there is.

Highland Ave south
La Brea south (left at the fork)
Stocker west (right)
La Cienega south (left)
La Tijera south (right at the fork)
Airport Blvd south (left)
Century Blvd west (right) into LAX

Going your route, you'd have to get off the Harbor freeway at Century and drive miles across South Central to get to LAX (the 110 doesn't drop you right at LAX). Or, you'd have to go all the way down to the 105 and take that west to the airport zone. Lots faster to go the old Angeleno route, in my opinion.

[InvisibleChurch]

Have you ever seen the SNL skit, The Californians?