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23-year-old San Diego man passes vehicle illegally on State Route 76 colliding with semi truck; four injured in crash

According to the California Highway patrol, a 23-year-old man from San Diego was attempting to illegally pass a vehicle on State Route 76 in Pala Tuesday night when he collided with a semi tractor truck pulling a trailer full of avocados.

CHP spokesman James Bettencourt said 23-year-old Yi Yang of San Diego was driving his 2007 Toyota Tundra pickup eastbound on State Route 76 east of Pankey Road July 2 at 9:02 p.m. when the incident occurred.

Yang, who was traveling at an unknown speed, approached slower traffic and "he decided to attempt to pass the vehicle in front of him," said Bettencourt.

"He crossed over the double yellow lines and into the opposite lane of travel while in a sharp curve," explained Bettencourt.

Meanwhile, a 68-year-old man from Murrieta was traveling westbound in a 2008 Peterbilt truck and trailer loaded with avocados. "When he observed the Tundra driving in his lane, he applied his brakes but could not stop prior to the Tundra colliding into the right front of the big rig," said Bettencourt.

"[Yang] received minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene," he said. "His passenger’s two 23-year-old males, both from San Diego, sustained major injuries (fractures and contusions) and were transported to Palomar Hospital." One of those was taken by medical helicopter. A 23-year-old female passenger in Yang's pickup sustained minor injuries and was transported to Palomar Hospital.

Bettencourt said the driver of the big rig "was not injured."

The roadway was closed for approximately two hours due to the removal of avocados and debris.

"Alcohol or drugs are not a suspected factor in this collision," said Bettencourt, but the collision remains under investigation.

(Previous story, July 3, 2013)

PALA - Four people sustained injuries when a Toyota pickup collided with a semi on State Route 76 at Rice Canyon Road Tues. night, July 2 shortly after 9 p.m.

An early report indicates that the Toyota pickup was eastbound on State Route 76 when it crossed over the center line and collided with the semi. The semi was pulling a tractor-trailer full of avocados.

It appears that the driver of the semi was not hurt, but four people, presumably in the pickup, were transported for treatment of injuries of varying levels. Some were taken by ground ambulance, and at least one by medical helicopter.

The roadway was closed for over an hour due to removal of debris and cleanup of avocados.

 

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