Escondido
A traffic accident in Escondido early Monday left a 17-year-old girl dead and her passenger critically injured, California Highway Patrol officials said.
Rita Bergman of Escondido died at Palomar Memorial Hospital at 6:20 a.m., less than an hour after the pickup she was driving west on Del Dios Highway in Escondido rolled down a 500-foot canyon, overturning several times, CHP spokeswoman Theresa Lockner said.
Robert Webber, 23, of Escondido is in critical condition at Palomar Hospital with neck and head injuries, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The two were on their way to the beach, Deputy Coroner Robert Engel said, when Bergman attempted to overtake another vehicle and lost control of the pickup.
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