Multi-Vehicle Accident Closes SB I-15 Lanes

Two dead, one sent to hospital officials said

California Highway Patrol officials have released new details about a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 15 in Mira Mesa, early Saturday morning.

Two people died in the accident, including an off-duty San Diego police officer, according to SDPD and CHP officials.

The four seperate accidents happened at about 3:05 a.m. and involved six different vehicles in total, said CHP Officer Art Athans.

The series of events began when a silver Honda, driven by a 21-year-old female, was stopped and blocking the second lane of the southbound I-15, Athans said. Investigators aren't sure why the vehicle was stopped there, he added.

Minutes later, a 2011 Mazda 6, driven by SDPD Officer Jason Prokop, 34, was traveling southbound on I-15 and struck the rear-end of the Honda, causing what officials called "major damage" to the vehicle.

The Honda was then moved into the middle lanes of the I-15, facing the wrong way, Athans said.

Just as the first accident happened, a silver 1998 BMW driven by 47-year-old man came up to the scene and allegedly sideswiped the Honda.

The BMW only suffered minor damage and ended up on the right shoulder of the freeway. The BMW's driver was uninjured, according to Athans.

Two more vehicles that were approaching the scene of the accidents collided as well, Athans said.

The two vehicles were said to be a white 2011 GMC driven by a 24-year-old man and a white 2003 Toyota Prius driven by a 23-year-old woman.

Both drivers were taken to an area hospital for minor injuries after the accident, according to a media release.

Just after the collision between the GMC and Toyota Prius, Officer Prokop got out of his vehicle and ran across the first and second lanes of the I-15 to reach the Honda's driver, Athans said.

Prokop reportedly requested medical assistance after attempting to give aid to the Honda's driver, at which point he tried to run to the right shoulder of the freeway.

As he did this, Prokop was struck by a blue 2010 Toyota Corolla, driven by a 45-year-old off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer, said Athans.

Prokop, a five-year veteran of SDPD assigned to Central Division, was declared dead at the scene along with the driver of the Honda.

After the accidents, all lanes of the southbound I-15 at the Mira Mesa Blvd exit were closed and CHP officials asked drivers to use the westbound state route 56 or HOV lanes.

Adding to the traffic were people trying to make it to the weekend’s Miramar Air Show.

Lanes on the I-15 were slowly reopened during the day, and all were made available by 12:30 p.m.

The collisions are still being investigated, though Athans said no arrests were made for alcohol or drugs.

Each of the drivers involved in the accidents were said to be wearing their seatbelts.
 

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