A 21-year-old man was killed in a head-on collision in Lakeside Saturday night, CHP officials said.
The crash happened around 10:30 p.m. at Lake Jennings Park Road, just north of El Monte Road.
According to a report released Sunday by the county medical examiner’s office, Lakeside resident Harold Wise IV (pictured below) was killed in the crash.
The report says Wise was driving alone in a Nissan sedan when, for unknown reasons, his vehicle veered into oncoming westbound traffic and collided head-on with a Jeep Wrangler.
Witnesses called 911 and emergency crews rushed to the scene, but Wise was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
The occupants of the Jeep – a 41-year-old Poway man and his 9-year-old daughter -- were transported to Sharp Memorial and Rady Children’s Hospital, respectively, with major injuries. They had to be extricated from their vehicle at the scene, CHP officials said.
The cause of the fatal crash is still under investigation. CHP officials say witnesses reported that Wise’s car was traveling approximately 80 to 100 mph at the time of the head-on collision.
Witnesses told investigators that Wise lost control of his car and crossed over the center turn lane, directly in front of the Jeep. At this point, it is unknown whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident, pending results of toxicology reports.
Wise was a local stage actor who worked as a director’s assistant with the MET 2 theater group. Last month, he played Captain Hook in a stage production of “Peter Pan” at the Poway Performing Arts Center. He was set to play Harold Hill in “The Music Man” next.
Wise’s loved ones have established a memorial fund for Wise via Paypal. To donate in his memory, click here.
