Two motorists were killed and a passenger suffered serious injuries Tuesday morning when a pickup truck heading the wrong way on Interstate 5 in Carlsbad crashed head-on into a sedan following a brief police pursuit in Oceanside.
Oceanside police stopped the truck's driver for a minor traffic violation at Carmelo and Monterey drives at 12:12 a.m., Oceanside police spokesman Tom Bussey said.
When officers got out of their patrol car, the driver took off and got on southbound I-5, Bussey said. The pursuit continued for a few minutes, but was called off when the motorist started going the wrong way on northbound I-5, he said.
The crash happened shortly after 12:20 a.m. when the Ford F-150 slammed into a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix sedan just south of Las Flores Drive, said California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Latulippe.
The 42-year-old San Diego man at the wheel of the truck and the Pontiac's driver, a 19-year-old Utah man, were pronounced dead at the scene, Latulippe said. Their names were withheld pending family notification, but investigators say the younger man was a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton.
"Our hearts are with the Marines and Sailors of 1st Transportation Battalion, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of our Marine," said Brig. Gen. Bobbi Shea, the 1st Marine Logistics Group commanding general. "We will dedicate all necessary resources to provide help and comfort to those affected by this tragedy."
The Marine's name is being withheld until 24 hours after the notification of next of kin, he said.
A 35-year-old San Diego man who was a passenger in the pickup was taken to a hospital for treatment of multiple broken bones and complaints of chest and neck pain, the officer said. His name was also withheld.
All northbound lanes of I-5 near Las Flores Drive were shut down, triggering a SigAlert. The lanes were reopened around 5:45 a.m.
