OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) – A crash involving several vehicles on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton left at least three men dead and forced the closure of a stretch of the freeway early Thursday morning.
The crash on southbound I-5 at Las Pulgas Road occurred at around 3 a.m., with the California Highway Patrol reporting numerous motorcycles involved in the incident.
CHP officials said a Jeep -- for reasons unknown -- crashed into the left shoulder guardrail, swerved back onto the freeway lanes, and then came to a stop.
An oncoming Mercedes-Benz van struck the disabled Jeep, and moments later, a group of four oncoming motorcycles collided with the van and Jeep, officials said.
According to CHP officials, three of the motorcyclists were pronounced dead at the scene, while the fourth was taken to the hospital. U.S. Navy spokesman Brian O'Rourke confirmed to ABC 10News that two of the three men who died were sailors.
Two people who were inside the Jeep were flown to Scripps La Jolla Hospital to receive treatment for their major, life-threatening injuries. The driver and a passenger in the van suffered moderate injuries, and they were also taken to the hospital.
Due to the emergency response to the crash, all southbound I-5 lanes between Las Pulgas Road and state Route 76 were shut down. At 11 a.m., the right two lanes on I-5 south at Las Pulgas Road were reopened, according to a Caltrans San Diego tweet. The left lanes were still closed at that time.
Update: SB I-5 at Las Pulgas Rd, right two lanes have reopened - left lanes remain closed. pic.twitter.com/ezCwoyc0d5
— Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) June 27, 2024
Officers were still in the process of finishing up their investigation and clearing debris. At this point, no one was being detoured, but traffic was still heavily congested.
By around 3:30 p.m., all lanes were fully reopened.
CHP is still working to determine if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, motorists on southbound I-5 near the scene were being diverted to go onto northbound I-5.
Drivers who were diverted northbound from the area and drivers coming from Orange or Los Angeles counties on southbound I-5 were advised to take state Route 74 or state route 91 to Interstate 15.
At least two lanes and an offramp at northbound I-5 at Cristianitos Road were also closed.
