Matthew Adams and Christian Zurita Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on 5 Freeway [CARLSBAD, CA]

US Marine and Wrong-Way Driver Dead when Their Vehicles Collide Head-On on 5 Freeway in Carlsbad

 
CARLSBAD, CA (January 14, 2020) – Two people were killed in a wrong-way crash Tuesday just after midnight in Carlsbad, authorities said.
 
The crash happened in the northbound lanes of 5 Freeway at Las Flores Drive.
 
Oceanside police tried to pull over a black Ford F-150 when they saw it speeding on North Coast Highway. When the truck pulled over and officers got out, the driver took off.
 
The pickup truck then drove the wrong way on northbound 5 Freeway and crashed head-on into a silver Pontiac sedan.
 
As a result, the driver of the Pontiac died at the scene. Authorities identified him as 19-year-old Matthew Ryan Adams of Utah, an active-duty Marine based out of Camp Pendleton.
 
The wrong-way driver, identified as 42-year-old Christian Zurita of San Diego, was also killed in the crash.
 
A passenger in the suspect’s vehicle, a 35-year-old San Diego man, was uncooperative with police and refused to get out of the car.
 
Paramedics transported that passenger to Scripps La Jolla Medical Center with minor injuries. It was not immediately clear if he will face any charges.
 
It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were considered factors in the crash.

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We express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Matthew Adams and Christian Zurita during this time of grief.

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