San Diego County CA— Two people are dead in separate hit and run incidents on North County Freeways. One on I-5 in Encinitas involving a motorcyclist and another on SR-78, in Escondido, involving a pedestrian.
On Friday afternoon, April 7, 2017 at approximately 5:05PM a motorcyclist, identified only as a 24-year-old from San Diego, was riding a 1995 gray Harley-Davidson motorcycle southbound I-5, south of Encinitas Blvd, splitting the number one and two lanes at an unknown speed. An person unknown was driving a silver Toyota, unknown model, in the number one lane and attempted to change lanes to the number two lane.
Francisco Gonzalez, 50-years-old of Montebello, was driving a 2014 International tractor-trailer combination southbound in the number three lane and to the right of the Toyota. The Toyota driver moved to the right from the number one lane to the number two lane, directly in front of the approaching motorcycle. The motorcycle then collided with the Toyota causing the motorcyclist to overturn in the number two lane and slide to the right directly under the tractor trailer. The left rear tires of trailer collided with Harley-Davidson and the motorcyclist who sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision.
The driver of the silver Toyota failed to stop and continued southbound I-5. The whereabouts of the driver and the silver Toyota are not known. Three southbound lanes were closed at the height of rush hour and a Sig-Alert was issued.
The California Highway Patrol is requesting the assistance of any motorist who was traveling southbound I-5 near Encinitas Blvd. between the hours of 4:50 PM and 5:05PM, who may have witnessed the collision or may have any information regarding the details of this collision.
The motorcyclist was wearing a full-faced red helmet and a dark jacket with a patch similar to the British flag on the back of the jacket.
If you have any information as to the identity of the driver of the silver Toyota, which may contain damage to the right rear bumper and right rear quarter panel, please contact California Highway Patrol at (858)637-3800.
The second incident occurred at approximately 9:45pm when an unidentified adult Hispanic male, possibly in his 20’s, was walking in the eastbound center divide or the number one lane of eastbound SR-78 near Center City Parkway.
An unknown vehicle, possibly a sedan, struck the pedestrian then fled the scene. The male pedestrian ended up in the center divide and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The vehicle in question may be a sedan missing the drivers side mirror and have significant front end damage. At this time the CHP doesn’t have any further information on the vehicle involved or
the driver.
The CHP is asking if anyone has any information on this collision to please call the Oceanside CHP office during normal business hours at (760) 643-3400 or the CHP dispatch center, 24 hours
a day, at (858)637-3800.