SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Four people were killed and two drivers were arrested following a multi-vehicle crash on state Route 163 in the Kearny Mesa area early Friday morning, the California Highway Patrol said.
CHP officials said the wreck involving three vehicles happened just before 1:30 a.m. on southbound SR-163 after the transition from southbound Interstate 805.
The circumstances that led to the incident were not immediately known, but CHP officials confirmed four people died.
Officials said all four victims were ejected from the vehicles and were found on the roadway by responding emergency crews.
Three of the victims were identified as males age 24, 26, and 27; the fourth victim was not immediately identified.
Officials told ABC 10News that a 32-year-old man and a 25-year-old man were taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The CHP is investigating the events that led to the crash and they are trying to determine if the two men suspected of DUI knew each other.
Images of the scene are hard for Bruce Mezan to look at.
“It's just deep, deep sadness because it resonates with me,” said Megan.
In February 2020, Mezan was on his way to teach a motorcycle safety class when a drunk driver slammed into him at a Rancho Santa Fe intersection.
He was hospitalized for two months. His right leg was amputated below the knee.
“I feel so heartbroken because of the devastation. I’m very aware of the depth of the pain that's felt for so many people for so long,” said Mezan.
Due to the emergency response and investigation, southbound SR-163 — between Genesee Avenue and the transition to I-805 — was shut down for several hours. Traffic on southbound SR-163 was diverted onto I-805.
By 1:30 p.m., Caltrans officials said all affected lanes were reopened.
Map of incident based on CHP coordinates:
