An 18-year-old unlicensed driver suspected of being high on marijuana allegedly caused a crash at an Escondido intersection Sunday that injured several people, including himself.
The driver of a southbound green Toyota Paseo, identified by police as Elias Mendez of Escondido, ran a red light at the intersection of Broadway and Second Avenue around 1:15 p.m. and crashed into a white Chevy Impala, Escondido police Lt. Justin Murphy said.
The Paseo’s backseat passenger, 18-year-old Moises Lopez of Escondido, suffered severe neck and back injuries, Murphy said. He was taken to Palomar Medical Center to be treated along with Mendez and a 17-year-old passenger, who both sustained only minor injuries.
The Impala’s driver also sustained minor injuries but refused treatment, Murphy said. A 1-year-old passenger in that car was not hurt, he said.
Murphy said Mendez was later arrested on suspicion of felony drugged driving and driving without a license.
He asked anyone with additional information on the crash to call (760) 839-4423.
—City News Service