San Diego, California — A 65-year-old father was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 after reportedly trying to reach his daughter, whose car had stalled with her children inside, according to authorities cited by local news outlets.
The fatal collision happened at approximately 3:30 a.m. Monday, October 26, on northbound I-15 just north of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in San Diego. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The man’s daughter and the children traveling with her were not injured, according to information provided by CHP.
Father Responds to Daughter’s Call for Help
The incident began when the woman’s Mazda experienced mechanical trouble and stalled in the center divider of the interstate. According to reports citing CHP, the problem may have been related to a flat tire.
Stranded with her children inside the vehicle, the woman called her father for assistance.
CHP Officer Issam Wahhab told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the father attempted to cross the highway to reach the center median where his daughter’s vehicle was stopped.
During that attempt, he was struck by a gray Toyota Corolla driven by a 30-year-old man from Los Angeles. The father, identified as a 65-year-old man from Vista, California, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Multiple Vehicles Become Involved in the Crash
The initial collision led to additional vehicles becoming involved, according to CHP information.
CHP Sgt. Ray Scheindes told the newspaper that the father appeared to have been struck on the driver’s side of a minivan by the Toyota Corolla. Authorities have not publicly clarified every detail of the sequence of events leading to the fatal impact.
Following the initial crash, a Toyota Highlander SUV struck the Corolla. A silver Nissan Versa also became involved after sideswiping one of the other vehicles, according to the report.
The drivers of the Toyota Corolla and the Highlander SUV were transported to a nearby hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available in the reports.
The investigation is expected to help authorities determine how the vehicles collided and establish the precise circumstances surrounding the father’s death.
Daughter and Children Escape Injury
Despite the fatal crash, the man’s daughter and her children were reported to have escaped injury.
The family had been waiting for assistance after the Mazda stalled in the center divider. The father arrived to help, but the situation turned into a deadly highway collision before the family could safely resolve the vehicle problem.
The incident highlights the dangers that can arise when a vehicle becomes disabled on a busy interstate, particularly during overnight and early-morning hours when visibility and traffic conditions may complicate roadside assistance.
Motorists who experience vehicle trouble should prioritize getting themselves and their passengers to a safe location whenever possible and contacting highway assistance rather than attempting to cross active traffic lanes.
Northbound I-15 Closed During Investigation
The crash prompted a significant traffic disruption on northbound Interstate 15 as CHP investigated and crews cleared the roadway.
Traffic was redirected to State Route 52 while authorities worked at the scene. All northbound lanes were temporarily closed before reopening at approximately 8:45 a.m. Monday.
The closure affected morning travel as investigators examined the crash scene and emergency crews addressed the aftermath of the collision.
Officials have not released additional details about whether the stalled Mazda’s suspected mechanical problem was confirmed to be a flat tire.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
CHP told that drugs and alcohol were not suspected to have played a role in the collision. A toxicology report was issued through the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, according to the reports.
Authorities have not announced a final determination regarding the cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing, and further findings may clarify the circumstances surrounding the collision and the father’s death.
The tragedy left one person dead while the daughter and children he had gone to help escaped physical injury.
What would you do if your vehicle broke down on a busy highway with your family inside? Share your thoughts in the comments, and pass this story along to remind other drivers about the importance of staying safe during roadside emergencies.
