San Diego

Escondido Driver Dies After Crashing Into Tree

This is the second fatal crash into a tree on Monday

For the second time on Monday, a driver has died after crashing into a tree, this time in Escondido.

Escondido police say the driver, identified as 21-year-old Temecula resident Galileo Esteban Diego, lost control and spun sideways into the median of Country Club Lane near North Iris Lane at 7:30 p.m.

The Dodge Caravan wrapped around a tree on its passenger side, killing the driver on impact. He is described as a Hispanic man in his 20s, but his name has not been released.

Police say excessive speed definitely played a factor in the crash.

Residents told NBC 7 they heard a loud bang and came running. Off-duty EMT Dwayne Bridge hoped to save the man inside.

"The car was pretty much wrapped around the tree, and there was a guy trapped in there, but he was deceased," Bridge said.

No one else was in the vehicle, and no other cars were involved, officials say.

Both lanes of Country Club Lane were closed between Broadway and North Iris Lane as the investigation continued.

Just hours before, another crash in El Cajon took the life of a 30-year-old woman. California Highway Patrol officials say she was speeding on the freeway when she lost control of her car and slammed into a tree.

She was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene.

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