Seven injured, two dead in Interstate 8 tra c collision

Nine occupants were injured, two fatally, during a single-vehicle traffic collision Friday morning on eastbound Interstate 8, west of Dunaway Road, a California Highway Patrol news release stated.

Seven children — all of whom were under 12 years old — and two adults — a 42-year-old male driver and a 31-year-old female riding in the front passenger seat — were in the vehicle.

The driver and the female passenger succumbed to fatal injuries at the scene prior to CHP arrival, while the children sustained major to moderate injuries and were transported to hospitals for treatment. All occupants were Lakeside residents.

The vehicle involved in the collision was a 1999 Ford Expedition that was hauling a heavily loaded U-Haul trailer, stated CHP traffic logs.

At approximately 10:30 a.m. Friday, the Ford was traveling on I-8 in the eastbound lanes at an unknown speed. For an unknown reason, the driver allowed the Ford to move off of the roadway onto the dirt shoulder just west of Dunaway.

The driver then attempted to get the vehicle and trailer back onto the roadway by turning to the left then to the right.

The vehicle and trailer overturned while moving into and across the left lane of traffic.

The Ford overturned an unknown number of times before coming to rest in the center median.

All nine occupants were ejected from the Ford. The news release stated that none of the occupants were using seat belts at the time of the collision.

Two car seats were found inside of the vehicle, but the children were not restrained properly.

CHP and good Samaritans provided medical attention until fire department personnel and ambulance arrived on scene.

Three of the minors with moderate injuries were transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center for treatment, while one minor with unknown injuries was transported to Riverside University Hospital.

Another minor with major injuries was transported to Loma Linda, and two minors with major injuries were transported to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego for treatment.

The ages of the minors were 12, 10, 6, 5, 4, 2 and 1.

“We can’t stress enough the use of seatbelts and speeds while towing loads,” CHP Public Information Office Javier L. Amezcua stated. “Speed limits while towing in the state are at 55-miles-per-hour maximum.”

Due to the collision, the freeway near Dunaway was temporarily shut down Friday and was reopened within an hour.