A 71-year-old man died in a three-car collision in La Mesa Friday night, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officials said around 10:45 p.m., La Mesa resident Michael James Bliss, 71, was driving his 1989 Mercedes eastbound on Interstate 8 near 70th Street.
Bliss drifted into the center divider and hit the concrete wall to his left, which caused him to stop right in the middle of the first lane of traffic.
A 20-year-old El Cajon man driving a 2005 Pontiac Vibe wasn't able to swerve out of the way in time, so he hit the right side of the Mercedes.
Soon after, a 24-year-old Santee man in a 2004 Honda Accord struck both the cars, which were blocking two lanes of traffic.
The Accord and Vibe drivers were not injured. However, Bliss was pronounced dead at the scene, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said.
The CHP said he apparently was not wearing a seatbelt.
Local
It does not appear that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
