Around 3 am on Thursday, June 27th, multiple vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction crash on I-5 South near Las Pulgas Road, leaving three dead. California Highway Patrol reported six vehicles were involved, a Jeep, a Sprinter van, and four motorcycles.
California Highway Patrol Officer, Hunter Gerber, reported that the crash took place just after 3 am. The driver of the Jeep Wrangler was traveling south on I-5 when the vehicle veered off the freeway, slamming into the guard rail. The Jeep then returned to the southbound lanes and was struck by a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, which then overturned.
According to Gerber, after the Jeep and Sprinter van collided, four motorcyclists, who were traveling together in a group, crashed into the vehicles.
CHP’s online log shows that motorists who witnessed the collisions called 911 and told dispatchers there was at least one motorcycle that had caught on fire.
Gerber said there are three confirmed deaths due to the crash. Five others were injured and transported to hospitals for treatment, two of the five injured sustained life-threatening injuries.
The accident caused CHP officers to close all southbound lanes of I-5 near Camp Pendleton, causing a major traffic jam and backing up vehicles traveling south from Orange County. Traffic heading north on I-5 has been impacted as well. Gerber reported that CHP will conduct their initial traffic investigation and hopes to have I-5 southbound lanes reopened by 9 am Thursday.
What Factors Can Lead To Car Accidents?
Car accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Drowsy driving – driving while fatigued can significantly impair a driver’s ability to react quickly to changing conditions and their ability to make sound judgments. Drowsiness can lead to falling asleep at the wheel, resulting in serious accidents. Studies have shown that being awake for 17 hours has similar effects on the body as having a BAC of 0.05%
- Distracted driving – distractions like texting, talking on the phone, eating, adjusting the radio, or even talking to passengers can take away a driver’s attention from the road. Even a few seconds of distraction can lead to a serious collision.
- Drunk or drugged driving – alcohol and drugs impair a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely by affecting their coordination, judgment, and reaction times. Driving under the influence is a major cause of traffic fatalities. In the US, the legal BAC limit is 0.08%, but even lower levels of intoxication can impair driving abilities.
- Speeding – driving at speeds higher than the posted limits or too fast for road conditions greatly reduces a driver’s ability to react to obstacles and increases the severity of accidents. Speeding is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents and fatalities. Traveling at higher speeds results in longer stopping distances and reduced effectiveness of safety features like seat belts and airbags.
“Our hearts go out to those involved in the devastating accident that occurred Thursday morning, and our thoughts are with the family and friends who lost their loved ones,” says Gerald Singleton, attorney at Singleton Schreiber, “As a personal injury lawyer I’ve seen firsthand the impact an accident like this can have on all of those involved. It is important that the victims and their families know they may have legal recourse and could consider contacting a personal injury attorney to learn more about personal injury and wrongful death claims.”
If you’ve been injured in a car accident or lost a loved one in an accident, contact the San Diego motor vehicle accident attorneys at Singleton Schreiber at (619) 771-3473 or by email at info@singletonschreiber.com to learn more about how we may be able to help you.
