“Driverless” Truck Continues for Mile on I-5

Witnesses say the driver leapt from his truck and was struck by a car on I-5

A man who witnesses say leapt from his pickup truck, leaving it to continue driverless for about a mile, was struck by a car on Interstate 5 Monday evening, according to fire officials.

At about 8:30 p.m., several people told the California Highway Patrol that the man turned on his emergency flashers and jumped from his truck's driver's side on the north I-5 just north of the Leucadia exit.

He was hit by at least one car, according to CHP Sgt. Matt Boothe. Officials are not sure why the man leapt out, and they are trying to identify him.

"All we know at this time is that he was alone when he jumped out of the truck," Boothe told NBC 7.

The truck coasted another mile or so, avoided other vehicles, and then veered to an off-ramp near La Costa Avenue. The pickup hit an electrical pole, sending live wires falling down, and stopped in a ditch.

The CHP issued a Sig Alert for the area as traffic backed up past Encinitas.

A helicopter landed on the freeway to transport the man to Scripps La Jolla Hospital for major injuries.

By 9:30 p.m., all northbound lanes just south of Leucadia Boulevard were reopened.

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