TEEN KILLED, 8 INJURED IN 3-VEHICLE CRASH WHERE RACING SUSPECTED

A three-vehicle crash Friday night in Linda Vista killed a 17-year-old boy and injured eight others, including several teens or young adults, authorities said.

The collision, possibly the result of two vehicles racing, happened just before 11 p.m. on Genesee Avenue near Osler Street, near Linda Vista Community Park, according to San Diego Fire-rescue Battalion Chief Ed Kinnamon and San Diego police Officer Robert Heims.

A Toyota Camry and a Nissan Altima — both driven by 17-year-old boys — were going westbound on Genesee when the Toyota’s driver passed at a high rate of speed, police said. The Toyota swerved to the left and sideswiped the Nissan.

Unable to control the Toyota, the sedan then crashed head-on into an eastbound Mazda 3.

“There were several kids — or young adults — that were inside the two cars” and trapped, Kinnamon told Onscene TV. A special firefighter team trained for technical rescues used the Jaws of Life to free the victims from the badly damaged vehicles.

Firefighters removed the doors and other parts of both vehicles to free the victims in a rescue that took at least 30 minutes.

The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at a hospital. His name was not released. Two of the three passengers in his car suffered serious injuries.

The 21-year-old woman driving the Mazda and her two passengers suffered lifethreatening injuries, police said.

The three occupants of the Nissan had complaints of pain.

Medics took the victims of the three-vehicle crash to at least three different area hospitals for treatment, Kinnamon said.