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

Marine Dies after Crash with Wrong-Way Driver on 5 Freeway at Las Flores Drive

 
CARLSBAD, CA (January 14, 2020) – A young marine was killed following a wrong-way crash early Tuesday morning in Carlsbad.
 
The crash happened just after 12:00 a.m. on northbound 5 Freeway at Las Flores Drive.
 
A 19-year-old Matthew Ryan Adams, an active-duty Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, was hit head-on by a Ford pickup truck that was heading the wrong way in the northbound freeway.
 
As a result, Adams suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.
 
Officials said the pickup truck driver, who was also killed in the crash, had been trying to escape police after a chase through Oceanside. He was identified Thursday as 42-year-old Christian Zurita.
 
Police said it all started when officers tried to pull Zurita over for a minor traffic violation near Monterey Drive. The truck pulled over at first, but Zurita took off when an officer started to approach his vehicle.
 
He then pulled onto the freeway in the wrong direction. A short time later, the truck smashed head-on into Adams’ Pontiac Grand Prix.
 
Officers approached the truck, breaking out the windows, and deploying a K9. A male passenger in the F-150 was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to Scripps La Jolla Hospital.
 
Further investigation into this fatal crash is underway.

---

We are one with the families and friends of Matthew Adams during this very unfortunate time of their lives.

---

If you have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, seek trustworthy legal guidance with an experienced wrongful death attorney. The Sweet Lawyers have been representing bereaved families for over 44 years. Our team has provided victims with excellent legal representation, making sure they receive both justice and compensation. For more details, please contact our hotline at (800) 674 7852 and discuss your case free of charge.