The deadly head-on crash happened at about 2:59 a.m. on southbound Interstate 5 west of Hawthorn Street.
San Diego, CA – The authorities have identified one of the two drivers who were killed in a head-on traffic collision on Interstate 5 in San Diego early Friday.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Jesus Verduzco, a 62-year-old Bonita man. Verduzco was driving a white Honda CR-V that collided head-on with a blue Dodge Durango on 5 Freeway, west of Hawthorn Street.
The driver of the Dodge, a 56-year-old resident of El Cajon, was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released.
Verduzco was transported to UCSD Medical Center, where he was declared dead at about 4:10 a.m.
Original Story
San Diego, CA – Two men were killed following a wrong-way collision on Interstate 5 near the Little Italy area of San Diego early Friday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The head-on crash occurred at about 2:59 a.m. on southbound Interstate 5 west of Hawthorn Street.
According to CHP, a blue Dodge Durango and a white Honda CR-V collided head-on in the southbound lanes of the freeway. Investigators said one of the vehicles had reportedly been traveling in the wrong direction at the time of the crash. It was not immediately clear which vehicle was heading in the wrong direction, leading to the crash.
The driver of the Dodge, identified only as a 56-year-old El Cajon man, died at the scene. The driver of the Honda, a 62-year-old Bonita resident, was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Officials have not yet publicly released the identities of the victims pending notification of next of kin.
The collision caused significant traffic delays in the area as authorities diverted motorists at Washington Street and temporarily closed the Kettner Boulevard on-ramp during the investigation and cleanup efforts. Two freeway lanes reopened around 5:30 a.m., while all lanes were later reopened to traffic.
Authorities said toxicology results are pending through the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the collision.
The incident is under investigation.