The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said Friday afternoon that five people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on state Route 67 near Iron Mountain Road in Poway on Friday afternoon.
The accident between Poway Road and Scripps Poway Parkway was reported at about 12:40 p.m. as a vehicle rollover that began spreading to nearby vegetation. Cal Fire San Diego crews responded and quickly halted the spread at a half-acre.
Three vehicles were involved in the crash, according to SDSO. One was visibly charred on the shoulder of the roadway, while another sat crushed in the median several feet away. A third vehicle plummeted into a ravine, which is how the fire began.
All lanes of SR-67 between Poway Road and Scripps Poway Parkway were shut down for hours as crews worked to contain the small blaze and California Highway Patrol investigated the crash. Caltrans San Diego said lanes were reopened around 7:30 p.m.
The cause is still being investigated, the sheriff’s department said.
Around midnight there was another fiery crash on State Route 67 near Quail Rock Rd.
Around midnight there was another fiery crash on State Route 67 where a small SUV was in flames near Quail Rock Rd, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Less than an hour after the initial call it was discovered that a pedestrian was found around two miles away from the burning SUV and a drone search was requested to find out if another pedestrian was struck in the area, according to CHP.
Some people in the area are calling for changes to be made to the roadway.
“I think more lights just so the road is a bit more visible at night, it’s really dark and you can’t see that much in front of you. More stoplights or at least stop signs,” Maya Sepulveda said.
The identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.