Coronado Bridge Traffic Snarled by 7-Vehicle Crash

A seven-vehicle accident on the Coronado Bridge during rush-hour Wednesday afternoon blocked traffic on the span for nearly 1 1/2 hours and left two persons seriously injured, the California Highway Patrol said.

The accident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. when an car traveling east apparently had a flat tire, causing the it to strike a retaining wall and swerve across the westbound lanes. After sideswiping a motorcycle, the car struck an auto traveling west and then hit another car head on, a CHP spokesman said. Before the car came to a stop, it struck two other autos and a pickup truck.

Both the motorcyclist and the driver of the car that was struck head on were flown by Life Flight to the UCSD Medical Center. Late Wednesday night, the injured car driver, identified by the Highway Patrol as Daryl Maddox, was listed in fair condition in the intensive care unit, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

No information was available on the condition of the motorcycle rider, James Martin. Police identified the driver of the car that caused the accident as Richard Molina, who was treated for minor injuries, as were five other persons.

The accident closed traffic in both directions on the bridge from about 4:20 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., the CHP said.