Vista CA— Westbound SR-78 was closed at Sycamore for a fatal accident Investigation this morning, August 5, 2018.
The incident which spurred the investigation occurred shortly after 2:00am when a Toyota Corolla traveling westbound left the roadway to the right, traveled onto the dirt shoulder, veered back to the left across the lanes of traffic and struck the center divider. The Corolla became disabled within the #1 lane and center divider.
After the first collision, a 54-year-old male from San Marcos was driving a Scion XB approaching the disabled Corolla. The Scion XB struck the Toyota pushing it toward the number three and four lanes, on its side, where it came to rest. The Scion XB stopped in the number one and two lanes blocking traffic. The female driver of the Corolla was ejected from the vehicle by the impact into the number one lane and died at the scene.
The driver of the Scion XB suffered major injuries and was transported to Palomar Medical Center.
After the second collision, a third collision took place when a 38-year-old male, also from San Marcos, driving a Scion XC approached the scene and struck the Scion XB that was blocking the number one and two lanes. The impact pushed the Scion XB further west where it remained blocking the center divider and the number one lane. The Scion XC veered to the right and stopped on the right shoulder. The driver of the Scion XC and two passengers sustained minor injuries. All three were transported to Palomar Medical Center.
Alcohol and/drug impairment is suspected for both the Scion XB and XC drivers.