Updated at 3:45 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10
Two people were killed and two injured Saturday in a multi-vehicle hit-and-run collision on Interstate 15 near Poway involving a suspected drunk driver who was arrested at his home hours later.
The crash on the southbound freeway, near Scripps Poway Parkway, occurred at 1:43 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
That’s when Grant Thoren of Vista, 31, who was driving a silver 2003 Cadillac CTS, allegedly hit the back of a silver Honda sedan, briefly stopped on the shoulder of the freeway, then took off, continuing southbound on the freeway, according to CHP Officer Mary Bailey.
The disabled Honda, which was being driven by a 35-year-old woman from Temecula, was then hit by a Toyota Tacoma being driven by an Arizona man. The Tacoma stayed at the wreck site, Bailey said.
The Honda driver’s 62-year-old mother from Fairfield, and 2-year-old daughter from Temecula, were declared dead at the scene, while the driver and her 5-year-old daughter, also from Temecula, were taken to Sharp Memorial and Rady Children’s hospitals with major injuries, Bailey said.
A 24-year-old woman from San Diego who was riding in the Tacoma was taken to Sharp Memorial with a complaint of pain, while the driver was not injured, according to Bailey.
Thoren was arrested at his Vista home at about 7:15 a.m. on suspicion of murder, felony hit and run, and drunken driving, Bailey said.
Some news outlets reported that Thoren resides at a sober living home in Vista and that he called a tow truck driver to take him home, who alerted law enforcement. Bailey could not confirm that information.
The wreckage, which was deemed a crime scene by the CHP, caused a SigAlert in the area for hours. Southbound traffic was diverted into the HOV lane, Bailey said.
— City News Service
