San Diego DUI Driver Flips On I-15 After Driving 100 MPH: CHP

TEMECULA, CA — A San Diego man who flipped his truck on Interstate 15 in Temecula on Thursday afternoon has been arrested on suspicion of drugged driving, the California Highway Patrol says. The crash, reported at 12:42 p.m., happened along the northbound side of the freeway, near Winchester Road.

According to CHP Officer Mike Lassig, 48-year-old Jeffrey Mitchell of San Diego was headed north on the 15 in a 2004 Toyota Tundra, speeding through traffic.

"Witnesses observed this driver driving in excess of 100 mph, in-and-out of traffic... using all the lanes and the right shoulder," Lassig told Patch.

Then, when he was just north of Winchester Road, Mittchell went to use the right should to again pass traffic — but then drifted over into the soft, dirt shoulder portion, loosing control, Lassig said.

"He over-corrected and his vehicle veered to the left, across all traffic lanes to the center divider where the driver overturned, rolled over and landed on his left side," Lassig said.

The man, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered minor injuries and was complaining of pain, so he was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center to be checked out, Lassig said. Mitchell was ultimately arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

No other vehicles were involved in the wreck, but traffic was backed up as a result of the collision. The CHP Temecula Area office is investigating the incident.

By Renee Schiavone/Patch

Images by Joe Fanaselle