Oceanside, California – A tragic crash on southbound Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton has left three people dead, prompting the closure of all lanes early Thursday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Reported around 3 a.m. just south of Las Pulgas Road, the incident involved a jeep that swerved, hitting the guardrail and becoming disabled in the southbound lanes. Subsequently, a Mercedes van collided with the Jeep, causing it to overturn. This chain reaction crash led to four motorcyclists crashing into the van, resulting in the deaths of three of them at the scene.
Officer Hunter Gerber from the California Highway Patrol urged drivers to avoid the area, stating that traffic was backed up until Orange County due to the closure of all southbound lanes of I-5. The closure lasted for several hours during the early morning and through rush hour traffic, with traffic being diverted off at Las Pulgas Road. By late morning, two right lanes at Las Pulgas Road had reopened.
Those involved in the crash suffered varying degrees of injuries, with the driver of the van being taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. One motorcyclist was transported to the hospital with major injuries, while two individuals in the Jeep and two in the Mercedes van received medical attention for their injuries.
An ongoing investigation is in progress to determine the cause of the crash and any contributing factors. Authorities have not released further details regarding the incident at this time. Please check back for updates as more information becomes available.