Oceanside CA— On May 4, 2018 at approximately 4:45 PM a 20-year-old female from Escondido was driving a Buick sedan on SR-78 Westbound east of EI Camino Real. For reasons that are still under investigation, the female driver veered to the right across the lanes toward the right shoulder of the freeway lanes. The vehicle crossed the asphalt and dirt shoulder, went through the perimeter fence that separates the freeway from Vista Way, a frontage road to the north of the freeway onto Vista Way. Approaching eastbound on Vista Way within the number one lane was a Nissan Van towing a fishing boat driven by a 47-year-old male from Oceanside. Additionally a Ford Thunderbird driven by a 47-year-old female from Oceanside was alongside the Nissan Van within the number two lane.
The Buick struck the Ford Thunderbird head on and sideswiped the Nissan Van nearly simultaneously. The impact caused the boat being towed by the Nissan Van to shift, release from its trailer, and fly into the westbound lanes of Vista Way. The boat struck a Toyota Prius driven by a 43-year-old male from Carlsbad, and Chrysler 300 driven by a 95-year-old male from Oceanside, traveling within the number one lane on the westbound side of Vista Way.
The Toyota Prius and Chrysler 300 were both struck on the left side causing moderate damage to the Toyota Prius and minor damage to the Chrysler 300. The vehicles stopped blocking all lanes of Vista Way.
The female driver and male passenger seated in the right front of the Buick sustained major injuries and were taken by air to Scripps La Jolla. A passenger within the rear of the Buick sustained minor injury and was taken to Palomar Medical Center. The male driver of the Nissan Van did not sustain injury. The driver of the Ford Thunderbird sustained complaint of pain injuries. The driver of the Toyota Prius and Chrysler 300 were not injured in the collision.
The SR-78 Westbound was not affected during the on scene investigation. Vista Way was closed with the assistance of Oceanside Police Department from the time of the collision until 6:45 PM.
The incident remains under investigation.
Driving under the influence does not appear to be a factor in this collision.