Crime & Safety
Four-Car Accident Near Dye Rd. Sends 3 to Hospital, Driver Distracted by Cell Phone
The driver at the root of the accident said he was looking at emails on his cell phone and didn't see traffic come to a stop.
Originally posted August 21 at 10:45 a.m.
The driver at the root of a four-car accident on SR-67 that sent three people to the hospital Wednesday morning was looking at emails on his cell phone just before the crash, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Kevin Pearlstein.
The multi-car accident occurred at 6:45 a.m. in the southbound lane of Route 67 just north of Dye Road, said Pearlstein. The crash caused traffic to back up into Ramona's Main Street during the morning commute, according to Facebook posts.
According to CHP, a 2003 Chevy 2500 pick up truck driven by a 51-year-old man from Lakeside ran into the back of a 2006 Nissan Altima driven by a 44-year-old female Ramona resident, which in turn hit a 2008 Mini Cooper driven by a 52-year-old Ramona resident and finally collided with a 2013 Lexus driven by a 51-year-old female Ramonan.
The driver of the Chevy that was at the root of the accident said he was looking at emails on his cell phone and didn't see traffic come to a stop, according to Pearlstein. The CHP officer said he was traveling about 45 m.p.h. when the accident occurred.
CHP reported that the woman in the Altima was trapped for 15-20 minutes in her vehicle before being extricated and taken by ambulance to Palomar Hospital. The drivers of the Mini Cooper and Lexus were taken to Sharp Hospital. All reported minor injuries. The driver of the Chevy was not injured.
No passengers were reported in the vehicles. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be a factor in this incident, according to CHP.
Event: Public Scoping Meeting for the SR-67 Median Barrier Feasibility Project
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