A California Highway Patrol cruiser. Photo by Chris Stone
One person was killed Friday and four others were injured, three critically, when the van they were in crashed on Interstate 8 in the far southeastern reaches of San Diego County.
Authorities believe the victims all to be U.S. Navy personnel.
The westbound Chevrolet Express veered off the freeway near Carrizo Gorge Road in Jacumba shortly before 10 a.m., struck a boulder and overturned, according to the California Highway Patrol.
One of the occupants died at the scene, Cal Fire Capt. Neil Czapinski said. Paramedics airlifted three others to a hospital for treatment of severe injuries and transported a fourth patient with moderately serious trauma by ground ambulance, he said.
The victims’ identities and the cause of the crash remained under investigation in the late afternoon.
Initial reports had indicated that the wrecked van may be a military vehicle, CHP public-affairs Officer Jim Bettencourt said.
Updated 8:15 p.m. June 3, 2022
City News Service contributed to this article.