SUV Driver Killed, Pickup Driver Seriously Hurt In 2 SR-78 Wrecks

SAN MARCOS, CA – Authorities Thursday will continue to investigate a crash that killed a 34-year-old man when his SUV crashed into the back of a semi truck that was disabled on state Route 78 in San Marcos, and a rollover crash that caused major injuries to a motorist around four-and-a-half hours later on the opposite side of the highway.

The semi truck was reportedly disabled in the center divide around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday on eastbound state Route 78 west of Twin Oaks Valley Road, according to a California Highway Patrol incident log.

Shortly before 12:55 a.m., the 34-year-old man driving a 2017 Honda CR- V eastbound in the left lane of SR-78 crashed into the back of the tractor and its 53-foot trailer, which were partially blocking the left lane of eastbound SR-78, CHP Officer Mark Latulippe said.

The Honda then skipped across lanes before it was struck by a tow truck driven by a 31-year-old man, and the vehicles came to rest blocking all lanes of the eastbound highway, Latulippe said.
Paramedics responded and pronounced the Honda driver dead at the scene, the officer said. The man's name was withheld pending family notification.

The 33-year-old man driving the semi truck and the 31-year-old man in the tow truck were uninjured in the crash, Latulippe said.

Intoxication was not believed to have been a factor in the collisions, he said.

At 5:35 a.m., a crash between a Ford pickup and two other vehicles on westbound SR-78 west of Twin Oaks Valley Road caused the pickup to overturn and land on its roof, CHP Officer Tommy Doerr said. The Ford driver was taken to Palomar Medical Center with major injuries.

CHP officers were investigating both crashes.

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--City News Service