OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Two drivers were killed early Friday when one of them drove the wrong way on Interstate 5 in Oceanside and smashed head-on into another car.
The crash, which killed both drivers, happened just before 2 a.m. in the southbound lanes near Mission Avenue. One of the vehicle caught fire after the collision.
The California Highway Patrol closed all southbound lanes of I-5 for about four hours during the investigation and cleanup. All lanes were reopened by 6 a.m.
Multiple 911 callers reported a vehicle driving the wrong-way on the southbound side of the interstate. Only one minute after CHP was alerted of the dangerous driver on the I-5, an Oceanside Police Officer that was headed towards the freeway, heard the fatal collision.
The head-on crash occurred in the far left lane of interstate 5 at Mission Avenue in Oceanside.
Oceanside firefighters took nearly 45 minutes to extricate both drivers, who ultimately succumbed to their injuries.
CHP Sergeant Salvador Gutierrez said it was too early to say which vehicle was at fault, driving the wrong-way. The investigation will check back with numerous 911 callers as traffic investigators continue to investigate the horrific double fatal collision.
Oceanside Firefighters spent about 45 minutes cutting a female driver out of her black Toyota 4Runner and another male driver was cut out of a newer red Toyota Corolla.
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OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) - Two people were killed Friday morning after a wrong-way head-on collision on Interstate 5 in Oceanside.
The California Highway Patrol said just after 2 a.m. witnesses reported seeing a black Toyota SUV traveling on northbound I-5 in the southbound lanes near Oceanside Boulevard. A red Toyota Camry traveling southbound could not avoid the SUV, and the two vehicles collided head-on near Mission Avenue.
The crash blocked several lanes, and according to the CHP, the SUV's female driver and the Camry's male driver both died at the scene.
At least three other cars struck the vehicles involved, but no one was injured.
A Sig Alert was issued for southbound I-5 at Mission Avenue due to the emergency response and investigation.
CHP officials said alcohol and/or drugs is suspected to be involved in the collision.