3 Dead, 1 Injured in Head-On Crash on Valley Center Road near Lake Wohlford Road [Valley Center, CA]

Three Killed in Valley Center Collision

VALLEY CENTER, CA (February 12, 2019) – Three men died, another one injured and a fifth ran away after a head-on crash on Tuesday, February 12.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident happened just after 6:00 a.m. when a pickup crashed head-on into a tow truck on Valley Center Road, between North Lake Wohlford Road and Paradise Creek Lane.

The tow truck was moving north when the southbound Ford F-150 veered into its path for undetermined reasons, CHP public-affairs Officer Mark Latulippe stated.

Three men in the pickup ranging in age from 25 to 45 died at the scene, the authorities said.

A fourth who had been riding in the front passenger seat of the F-150 fled following the collision. He was later found uninjured at a relative’s home in Escondido. He told the police he left the scene and hitched a ride to a relative’s house because he didn’t have his cell phone.

Latulippe said that medical responders brought the tow-truck driver to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido for treatment of minor injuries.

It is not yet determined if speeding or intoxication was a factor in the incident. Although authorities discovered beer cans and bottles that had spilled their contents inside the crumpled pickup truck, the discovery was inconclusive since the containers could have burst open during the crash, the spokesman said.

The accident caused complete closure of Valley Center Road at North Lake Wohlford Road. CHP issued a SigAlert for the area. The roadway reopened in the early afternoon.

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We extend our sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased victims.

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