Crash Kills 2 On Northbound I-15 In Near Pala Mesa

OCEANSIDE, CA — A crash that killed two people who were assisting a driver caused a full closure Thursday of northbound lanes on Interstate 15 just north of state Route 76, prompting major delays for commuters in North County.

Another driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and booked into the county jail in Vista, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Clayton Liekko. The identities of the two victims and the suspected DUI driver were unavailable.

The crash was reported just after 4 a.m. Thursday, according to the CHP.

Authorities shut down all northbound lanes shortly after in the area to investigate.

"There was a single crash just before (the victims) stopped to assist," Liekko told City News Service. He said another vehicle then struck the two people assisting.

It was unclear if the driver they were assisting suffered any injuries.

According to an ABC 10News report, the CHP said the crash near the Pala Mesa community "started when a Honda CR-V driven by a 21-year-old man rear-ended a Toyota Sienna."

"After the crash, two independent good Samaritans, a man and a woman, pulled over to help," 10News reported. "While they were assisting the driver of the Honda CR-V, a Honda Civic struck the passenger side of the CR-V, causing it to strike the good Samaritans. Both died at the scene, CHP said."

As of 8:50 a.m., officials said all lanes on northbound I-15 at SR-76 had reopened.

— City News Service