A grandmother and her toddler grandchild were killed in a DUI accident on Interstate 15 earlier this week. According to the California Highway Patrol, the deadly DUI crash happened around 1:45 a.m. on Saturday in the southbound lanes of I-15. The 64-year-old grandmother was driving a Honda with her 35-year-old daughter and her two granddaughters, a 5-year-old and two-year-old. According to authorities, a silver Cadillac CTS crashed into the rear of their vehicle at Scripps Poway Parkway, near Mercy Road. The Honda became disabled in the traffic lanes and was struck by an oncoming pickup truck. The 31-year-old driver of the CTS stopped on the right shoulder of the freeway for a brief moment and then fled the scene. CHP officials say the pickup driver remained at the scene.
According to first responders, emergency crews had to extricate the family from inside the mangled Honda. The grandmother and her 2-year-old granddaughter did not survive, according to CHP. The other passengers in the Honda were badly injured and rushed to a nearby hospital where they are expected to survive. The pickup truck driver was not injured, but a passenger in his vehicle was treated at the hospital.
Investigators conducted a search for the Cadillac driver who fled the scene and located him just hours later. He is suspected of driving under the influence. The accident is still under review according to the San Diego County District Attorney. Officials have not filed charges against the accused drunk driver that was arrested for the crash. His scheduled arraignment on Wednesday was canceled. A DA spokeswoman said the office plans to file charges, but the exact charges are still being decided.
The accused drunk driver is in police custody for another unrelated case and will not be eligible for bail, according to DA spokeswoman. He will remain in custody, and the new arraignment date will be announced.
The St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth, LLC, have helped numerous DUI accident victims find the justice and peace they are looking for after an accident. Contact Meyerkord & Kurth, LLC, today.