ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) - A fatal head-on collision prompted a complete shut down of southbound Interstate 15 in the North County Tuesday.
The crash was reported just before 12:30 p.m. A 78-year-old man was traveling the wrong direction on SB I-15 near Via Rancho Parkway, before colliding with a tractor-trailer and immediately into a second semi, according to California Highway Patrol.
The man was taken to Palomar Hospital shortly after the crash, where he died. The drivers of both tractor-trailers were not injured. Debris from the two collisions damaged a third vehicle, but that driver was not injured either.
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The man's identity has not been released pending family notification.
Investigators are looking into where the man entered the highway going the wrong direction and why. CHP officers said it's possible the man entered the highway about a quarter mile away at the West Bernardo Drive off-ramp.
SB I-15 was completely closed at one point after the crash before lanes were slowly reopened just before 2 p.m.
Sky10 flew over the scene Tuesday afternoon, capturing traffic backed up for miles into Escondido.
CHP is asking for any witnesses to report any information they may have on the incident by calling 619-220-5492.
