On Sunday, just after 2:30 a.m., Noel Basaluda, a 19-year-old Oceanside resident, was driving his Hyundai Sonata north on Interstate 5 when he tragically veered off the road for reasons that remain unclear. According to the Coast News, his car careened down an embankment alongside the 1700 block of South Oceanside Boulevard and struck a eucalyptus tree. Sadly, Basaluda died at the scene.
As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Basaluda's identity, but the cause of the accident has yet to be determined. Investigating authorities have not ruled out the possibility of alcohol or drug involvement, but no official statement as to the cause has been made.
Law enforcement officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, hoping to unravel the mystery of why Basaluda's vehicle left the road that morning. They call on anyone with information to come forward and assist in their inquiry by contacting the Oceanside California Highway Patrol office at 760-643-3400.
