Man Critically Hurt in Crash on Freeway
A 25-year-old man was in critical condition Tuesday after his van struck the back of a tractor-trailer on the San Diego Freeway, trapping him in the vehicle, authorities said.
Ernesto Madrigal of Baja California, Mexico, was driving north on the freeway near the San Onofre Inspection Facility about 1:30 p.m. when, for an unknown reason, he slammed into a parked trailer, California Highway Patrol authorities said.
“The Ford van under rides the trailer approximately eight feet,” said Officer Rick Sablan, spokesman for the CHP in Oceanside.
Camp Pendleton and Orange County fire departments rescued the victim, who was flown to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo.
Madrigal, who was the only occupant of the van, was reported in critical condition Tuesday night. He was wearing a seat belt, and an air bag in the van did deploy, investigators said. The 30-year-old driver of the trailer was not injured and was not cited.--THAO HUA
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