One dead after single-vehicle accident

A 70-year-old Long Beach man sustained fatal injuries after being involved in a single-vehicle collision that occurred Wednesday morning on eastbound Interstate 8, east of In-Ko-Pah Park Road, California Highway Patrol announced.

Bruce Mallard Sr. was the sole occupant in the collision and died as the result of blunt force head trauma, a CHP news release stated.

At approximately 6:25 a.m. Wednesday, Mallard was traveling downhill in a blue 2004 Kia Spectra on I-8 eastbound, two miles east of In-Ko-Pah.

As he approached a left curve at an undetermined speed, Mallard traversed the curve and caused his vehicle to move onto the left dirt shoulder.

Mallard attempted to make an unsafe turning movement back to the right, although ended up losing control of the vehicle.

The Kia spun in a clockwise manner across the eastbound lanes toward the right dirt shoulder and descending mountain side.

As the Kia left the roadway, Mallard was unable to regain control. The Kia traveled sideways across the dirt shoulder and overturned multiple times down the mountain side.

The Kia ended up overturning for a distance of approximately 250 to 300 feet.

The vehicle eventually came to rest on its wheels at the bottom on the canyon within a ravine.

Due to the rollovers, Mallard sustained multiple injuries, to which he succumbed.

Mallard was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 7:41 a.m. by Imperial County Fire Department captain.

It was determined that Mallard was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision, which remains under investigation, the CHP news release stated.