A hit-and-run crash on Interstate 8 in Mission Valley killed one person Thursday, injured three others — one severely — and left a motorist under arrest.
The fatal crash occurred about 1:30 p.m., when a westbound 2001 Toyota Avalon with four male occupants rear-ended a 2017 Toyota Prius at high speed near Waring Road, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Following the impact, the Avalon veered into a center median, where it struck several trees before re-entering the freeway and skidding to a halt across several lanes, CHP public-affairs Officer Jake Sanchez said.
At that point, the 20-year-old San Diego man behind the wheel of the car got out and fled on foot, leaving behind his three companions, one of whom died of his injuries. Officials withheld the victim’s name pending family notification.
Medics took one of the other Avalon passengers to Scripps Mercy Hospital with major trauma. The third was treated for minor injuries at the scene of the accident.
The Prius driver, a 38-year-old woman, was unhurt.
Officers tracked down the hit-and-run suspect near Mission Gorge Road and took him into custody. Authorities did not immediately release the name of the young man, who suffered minor injuries in the collision.
The wreck left four westbound lanes of I-8 closed into the evening commute. A CHP congestion alert for the area remained in effect as of 5 p.m.
–City News Service
