[Updated] SR 78 Collision Sends 3 to Hospital; Texting May Be to Blame

By Melissa Phy

Updated at 5 p.m. May 29, 2013
A Chula Vista Police officer was transported by air to Palomar Hospital after suffering "major injuries" in a three-vehicle collision Wednesday afternoon on state Route 78 at Earlham Street, a California Highway Patrol spokesperson said.
CHP PIO Brian Pennings said two other victims were transported by ambulance to hospitals after the accident, which may have happened due to texting.
According to Pennings, a 61-year-old Ramona man driving eastbound on SR 78 in a 2006 Chevy HHR was attempting to make a left turn onto Earlham Street just before 2:30 p.m.

A 17-year-old woman from Ramona in a 2011 Ford Fusion behind him was unaware that he had stopped to yield to oncoming traffic and rear-ended the Chevy, propelling the car into oncoming westbound traffic, authorities said.

A Chula Vista Police officer traveling westbound on SR 78 with a group of officers on a training ride collided with the front of the Chevy and was ejected from his motorcycle, Pennings said. He landed partially through the Ford Fusion's windshield and was airlifted out.

Pennings said the 61-year-old man and 17-year-old woman suffered moderate injuries.

According to Pennings, there is evidence the 17-year-old driver was texting just before the collision. She was on a provisional license that she just received in February, the officer said.

No details on the status or extent of injuries the police officer suffered were available.

Originally posted at 2:50 p.m.
A life flight was called in for a victim of a head-on collision at state Route 78 and Earlham Street Wednesday afternoon, California Highway Patrol reported.

According to authorities, an off-duty deputy on a motorcycle collided with a vehicle around 2:30 p.m. 

CHP issued a SigAlert for the area, as SR 78 was closed in both directions at Earlham Street until further notice.

One of the involved victims suffered facial lacerations CHP said.

Patch will keep you updates as details become available.