Solo Vehicle Crash Leaves Long-Standing Freeway Art Installation Destroyed

NORTH HOLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, Oct. 16 (KNN) — A young motorist lost control of his vehicle and destroyed a classic Los Angeles art installation in the process early Monday morning.

The collision was reported shortly before 4 a.m. on the northbound 170 Freeway at the Sherman Way off-ramp in North Hollywood.

The driver was heading northbound when he lost control of his sedan, crashing through a light pole and into the “Drive-By-Art” sculptures, damaging two and destroying one of the three pieces.

The “Drive-By-Art” as it was called by its creator, has been at the location on the Sherman Way off-ramp area since 1992 per the L.A. Daily News.

Lars Hawkes originally installed the pieces with his own funding and approval from Caltrans. Hawkes stated in an interview by the L.A. Daily News: “I want to make it uplifting for people to drive down the freeway. I feel (very strongly that) most people aren’t exposed that much to art.”

The pieces were re-built by artist Scott Froscher in February 2021.

The driver of the sedan was not transported and did not appear to suffer any injuries in the collision. Tow trucks were working to remove the vehicle from the sculpture at the time of this report.

California Highway Patrol’s West Valley Office will be handling the investigation.

Zak Holman, Video Journalist / KNN