Several cars and semi-truck crashed on Interstate 805 in National City Friday night, California Highway Patrol officials confirmed.
The collision happened just after 10 p.m. on northbound I-805 near Sweetwater Road and State Route 54. CHP officials said four vehicles were involved in a chain reaction-type collision, including a semi-truck.
Officials said a 29-year-old man from Tijuana was driving a 2005 Kenworth combination truck-tractor when he suffered a medical condition behind the wheel and became unconscious. The semi-truck stalled in the third lane of northbound I-805 at Sweetwater Road.
Just then, a 31-year-old woman from San Diego was driving a 2008 Ford Ranger approaching the stalled semi-truck. She didn’t see the semi in time and crashed sideways into left rear of it.
Officials said the Ford Ranger spun out into the other lanes and as this happened, the driver of a 2011 Volkwagen broadsided the Ranger. Then a 1999 Toyota Tacoma rear-ended the Volkswagen.
The driver of the semi-truck was taken to Sharp Chula Vista Hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later. The driver of the Ford Ranger sustained major injuries and was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital.
Her current condition is unknown.
The other two drivers involved in the chain reaction-style collision were not injured, officials confirmed.
One driver involved in the multi-vehicle accident told NBC 7 he was driving along the freeway when he saw a semi-truck disabled in the third lane, with its lights off.
The man also said the woman driving the Ford Ranger pickup truck along the freeway didn't see the stalled semi-truck and ran right into it.
A SigAlert was issued immediately following the crash and CHP officials shut down all northbound lanes of the I-805 near the scene, diverting traffic to SR-54. By Saturday morning, the I-805 lanes had reopened.
The crash is under investigation.
Further details on the medical condition of the victim driving the semi-truck were not released. His cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner. His name has not yet been released.
