La Mesa

A 61-year-old La Mesa man died Sunday in a traffic accident on Interstate 8 that investigators believe was caused by a 15-year-old boy in another car, authorities said.

The county coroner’s office identified the man as Wayland Clifton Smith. The boy, who a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol said suffered minor injuries, was not identified because of his age.

CHP spokesman Jeff Johnson said the accident occurred at 1:40 p.m. just east of Greenfield Drive in San Diego as the boy was driving at a high speed in the fast lane on the westbound side.

Johnson said the boy “clipped” the left rear end of another car, sending it swerving across the median strip. The car rolled over and landed on top of Smith’s car, which was in the fast lane of the eastbound side.

Also injured in the accident was a 74-year-old La Mesa woman who was a passenger in Smith’s car. She was listed in fair condition late Sunday at Sharp Memorial Hospital. A 15-year-old boy riding with the other youth suffered moderate injuries, and the driver of the third car was not hurt, Johnson said.