Man Fatally Struck While Helping Push Disabled Jeep In Escondido

ESCONDIDO (CNS) - A 38-year-old man helping to push a stranger's disabled Jeep was fatally injured when an allegedly impaired teenage driver struck the Jeep near an Escondido freeway off-ramp, authorities said Monday.

The crash, which happened just after 11 p.m. Sunday, also injured the Jeep's driver, who sustained head injuries when he was hit while pushing and steering his disabled SUV on eastbound state Route 78 near the intersection with North Broadway, California Highway Patrol public-affairs Officer Tommy Doerr said.

The events that led to the deadly collision began when the 38-year-old victim stopped to help the driver of the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was stalled in one of the lanes of the highway approaching a stop light, Doerr said. As the two men pushed the Jeep, a 2003 Toyota Rav4 approached from behind and struck the back of the stalled SUV.

The good Samaritan, who was pushing the Jeep from the back right side, died at the scene, Doerr said. The driver, who was standing in the driver's side door helping to steer as he pushed, was knocked to the ground and suffered head trauma.

"After the collision, (the 17-year-old) fled the ... scene on foot," Doerr said. "After extensive follow up, (he) was located at the Rally's restaurant in Escondido and was determined to be the driver."

CHP officers arrested the teen on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and during a search of his Rav4, they allegedly found a loaded handgun, drugs and drug paraphernalia, Doerr said. The 17-year- old, whose name was not released, sustained a scratch on his arm in the crash.

A 34-year-old woman whose Nissan Frontier was struck by the other SUVs was uninjured.

The deadly crash closed several lanes of traffic in the area overnight as CHP officers investigated.

By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock