SAN MARCOS (CNS) - A motorist was killed in a multi-vehicle crash this morning involving a semi truck on state Route 78 in San Marcos and another motorist suffered major injuries in a rollover crash around four-and-a-half hours later on the opposite side of the highway, authorities said.
A semi truck was reportedly disabled around 12:15 a.m. in the left lane of eastbound state Route 78 west of Twin Oaks Valley Road, according to a California Highway Patrol incident log.
At 12:55 a.m., someone told dispatchers that a vehicle crashed into the back of the semi truck and the vehicle was totaled.
The driver of the Honda CRV that struck the semi truck was killed in the crash, CHP Officer Tommy Doerr said.
At 5:35 a.m., a crash between a Ford pickup and two other vehicles on westbound SR-78 west of Twin Oaks Valley Road caused the pickup to overturn and land on its roof, Doerr said. The Ford driver was taken to Palomar Medical Center with major injuries.
No details about the victims were immediately available.
All lanes of eastbound SR-78 west of Twin Oaks Valley Road were closed following the first crash, but were re-opened by 6 a.m., Doerr said.
The left lane of westbound SR-78 west of Twin Oaks Valley Road was closed following the second crash, but it was re-opened around 6:25 a.m., he said.
CHP officers were investigating the circumstances leading up to both crashes.
