1 dead, 1 critical in fall from I-15 at Lake Hodges

Two men fell nearly 40 feet from Interstate 15, one to his death, when they got out of a car to relieve themselves early Wednesday, authorities said.

They apparently jumped over the edge of the carpool lane, thinking the other side was level ground or misjudging the distance to the dry riverbed below at Lake Hodges near Escondido, authorities said.

The 21-year-old man who died was identified by the Medical Examiner’s Office as Pablo Barajas, of San Bernardino.

Their driver, whose name was not released, was arrested on a DUI charge.

He and another passenger had also relieved themselves, returned to the car, then realized their companions were missing, California Highway Patrol Officer Tommy Doerr said.

Doerr said the driver of a Kia Optima sedan was headed south with four passengers, including a woman, about 2:40 a.m. They pulled over on the high-occupancy vehicle lane south of Via Rancho Parkway so the men could pee.

The men separated somewhat and two of the men did not see the other two fall.

When they realized the others were missing, they looked over the edge and saw them crumpled on the ground, in a dry area of the lake bed.

Firefighters and CHP officers made their way down to the lake. One man was dead and the other critically injured. He was taken to a trauma center and may not survive, Doerr said.

“This is very unusual,” Doerr said. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anything like this since I’ve been on (the CHP).”

UPDATES:

5:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details. This article was originally published at 6:55 a.m.