A man and and his toddler son died Thursday after a traffic collision near Escondido, California Highway Patrol officers confirmed.
A 2006 SAAB 97X SUV crashed at 8:50 a.m. while traveling westbound on Bear Valley Parkway near San Pasqual Valley Road.
CHP investigators say it appears the car lost control and slammed into a tree. One witness said the driver did not apply the brakes when veering to the right.
The driver, identified by CHP as 37-year-old Arthur Walker of Escondido, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of a car directly behind the SUV tried to move the driver but when he couldn't, he switched his efforts to rescuing a two-year-old boy strapped in a car seat, according to CHP officials.
Once the child was away from the SUV, the vehicle burst into flames, officials said.
The toddler died en route to Palomar Medical Center.
“Our hearts certainly go out to the family and the good Samaritan who was on scene who had to witness something that they did not think they would witness,” said CHP Officer Jim Bettencourt.
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A GoFundMe page has been started to help the family.
