A routine drive home turned into a devastating tragedy for a San Diego family earlier this month, after a minor traffic bump escalated into a deadly encounter on Interstate 805 near the State Route‑52 interchange. The California Highway Patrol confirms that **48‑year‑old father and attorney Barrick Lo was struck and later succumbed to his injuries following an alleged hit‑and‑run incident on the shoulder of the freeway.
According to CHP reports, Lo had just picked up his 7‑ and 9‑year‑old daughters from a fencing class and was driving southbound on I‑805 toward a planned meeting with his wife and 5‑year‑old son when the incident occurred.
While traveling near the 805‑52 exchange, another vehicle passed too closely on the right and lightly bumped Lo’s car. Both drivers then pulled onto the freeway shoulder to exchange insurance information a standard practice after minor collisions.
What happened next descended into chaos. Eyewitness accounts and statements from Lo’s friends say the other driver refused to exit his vehicle and appeared intent on leaving the scene.
Lo approached the vehicle to try to exchange information, but the driver allegedly backed his vehicle toward Lo on the shoulder. Lo was struck and left critically injured. He was transported to a local hospital where he died two days later from his injuries.
The experience was particularly traumatic for Lo’s daughters, who were in the car with him at the time and witnessed parts of the encounter, according to a family friend. Community members and loved ones have since described the scene as “cold‑blooded” and have voiced deep anger and heartbreak over the loss of a kind and devoted father.
Lo worked as a regulatory attorney for biotechnology firm Illumina, where colleagues remembered him as a valued and impactful member of the team. In a statement, the company expressed profound sorrow, emphasizing the deep loss felt by his co‑workers and the wider community.
In the days following the crash, tips from witnesses helped authorities locate a suspect and the vehicle involved. The driver was arrested and later arraigned on multiple charges, including murder and hit‑and‑run. Prosecutors say he has a prior felony conviction, and if convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison under California law.
Friends and family continue to call for justice in Lo’s name, urging prosecutors to pursue the harshest penalties allowed and advocating for increased awareness around the risks of roadside exchanges on busy freeways. “We want justice,” a close friend told local media, underscoring the grief and shock that has rippled through Lo’s community.
The CHP’s investigation into the incident remains active, and authorities have asked anyone with additional information to come forward to assist in building a comprehensive case, both criminally and for highway safety analysis.
The tragedy has sparked broader discussions around freeway safety, driver conflict, and the dangers of stopping on busy road shoulders particularly with young children present making this incident a painful cautionary tale for motorists across Southern California.
