2 Escondido Teens Identified as Victims in Fatal Freeway Overpass Fall in San Diego
SAN DIEGO, CA (July 9, 2019) – Ruben Ortiz Jr., 18, and Jesse Garcia, 17, have been identified Thursday as the two Escondido teenagers who were killed in a fall after a crash on a freeway overpass.
Ortiz and Garcia were in a 2012 Nissan Altima that went out of control and crashed on 56 Freeway, near Carmel Valley Road just after 11:00 p.m. on July 9. Garcia was driving his mother’s car at the time of the crash. The teen had been out with friends, celebrating his birthday.
The eastbound Nissan carrying six people was on the 56 Freeway when for unknown reasons, the car spun out and crashed into a bridge’s railing.
The Nissan came to a stop in traffic lanes over Gonzalez Creek. All six occupants got out to possibly avoid getting hit by an oncoming vehicle, CHP officials said.
Four of the occupants ran across the freeway and jumped over the bridge’s edge, dropping about 80 feet to the ground below.
The fall consequently killed Ortiz and Garcia. The two other female teens who jumped suffered critical injuries and remained hospitalized. They have not yet been identified.
Furthermore, the two other occupants, ages 14 and 15, ran away.
A GoFundMe page was created to help Garcia’s family cover the costs of a memorial service.
Our deepest condolences are with the families and friends of Ruben Ortiz Jr. and Jesse Garcia. We also wish with the injured parties a swift and steady recovery.
If your loved one has been a victim in a tragic accident, we encourage you to call the Sweet Lawyers today. Our experienced wrongful death lawyers will give their expertise to your case and get the justice you deserve. Please contact us at (800) 674 7852 for a free evaluation of your case details.