Man killed in big rig crash identified as 42-year-old

BONSALL – The driver of a 2021 Dodge Charger who was killed during a collision with a big rig Thursday, April 15, on Interstate 15 southbound, north of Route 395, was identified as a 42-year-old male from Baldwin Park, according to the CHP. His name was withheld pending notification to family.

The Dodge Charger was in the No. 3 lane. A 73-year-old male from San Diego was driving a 2015 Freightliner tractor-trailer combination in the No. 4 lane. Before the collision, the Dodge had been traveling erratically and at a high rate of speed. For reasons that are still under investigation, the driver of the Charger veered to the right from the No. 3 lane into the No. 4 lane. He collided and wedged underneath the back of the tractor-trailer.

Cal Fire Deer Springs responded to the accident. The California Highway Patrol, the North County Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection also responded to the scene to assist all parties involved. Unfortunately, the 42-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Freightliner was not injured.

The No. 4 lane was affected from the time of the collision until approximately 12:46 p.m. as the scene was investigated.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office was called to the scene around 9:30 a.m., but it was not immediately clear how many people were killed or injured in the crash.

A SigAlert shutting down the far right lane was issued at 10 a.m.

A second traffic accident occurred at 10:20 a.m. Thursday on I-15 south of Route 76 in Bonsall that left two vehicles blocking the fast lane, according to North County Fire and the CHP.

This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the CHP Oceanside office at 760-643-3400.

City News Service contributed to this report.