Fatal crash on I-5 near Oceanside causes traffic jams – NBC 7 San Diego

All lanes of southbound Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton were closed early Thursday due to a crash that killed three people, the California Highway Patrol said.

The accident was reported around 3 a.m. south of Las Pulgas Road. A Jeep skidded, struck the guardrail and came to rest in the southbound lanes. A Mercedes van then struck the Jeep and overturned, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Hunter Gerber. This caused a chain reaction in which four motorcyclists subsequently crashed into the van.

Three of the four motorcyclists died at the scene of the accident, Gerber said.

“Traffic is backed up into Orange County. We ask everyone to avoid the area if possible,” Officer Gerber said.

All lanes of southbound I-5 were closed and traffic was detoured via Las Pulgas Road. A SigAlert was issued.

The driver of the van was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

No further information was available.

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