A crash that killed two people who were assisting a driver caused a full closure Thursday of northbound lanes on Interstate 15, prompting major delays for North County commuters.
Another driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and booked into county jail in Vista, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Clayton Liekko. Authorities did not release the identities of the two victims and the DUI suspect.
The crash was reported just after 4 a.m., on I-15 just north of state Route 76, the CHP said. Officers shut down the lanes for the investigation.
“There was a single crash just before (the victims) stopped to assist,” Liekko said, then another vehicle struck the two people who were helping at the scene of the initial wreck.
It was unclear if the driver they were assisting suffered any injuries.
Northbound traffic was still being diverted at SR-76 at 6 a.m. while investigators remained on scene. CHP reported that southbound lanes were also delayed by onlookers. Officials asked drivers to seek alternative routes such as Pala Temecula Road, Rice Canyon Road and Old Highway 395.
Around 7 a.m., the CHP reported that the westbound and eastbound SR-76 on-ramps to I-15 were also closed.
Shortly before 8 a.m., officials said crews had reopened the far right lane on northbound I-15 following the fatal crash. There was no estimated time for a full reopening.
The vehicles involved, according to a 10News report, were a Honda CR-V, a Toyota Sienna and a Honda Civic.
Updated 3:55 p.m. June 11, 2026
