A horrific morning on the I-5, a pedestrian was killed after multiple vehicles hit him south of Dairy Mart Rd., authorities from the California Highway Patrol have confirmed. The accident, which occurred shortly after 3:10 a.m. near the exit at Dairy Mart Road, led to the closure of three lanes and prompted a significant traffic build-up, as per an announcement by Caltrans San Diego.
The initial report by FOX 5 San Diego described the victim as an adult male who entered the lane and was struck, with the first driver pulling over at an Arco Gas Station to call for help—but before authorities could arrive at the scene, additional vehicles subsequently hit the man, complicating the tragedy and the ensuing investigation that followed. The accident was a flurry of commotion that left commuters delayed and officials piecing together the sad sequence of events. Sgt. Kyle Johnson of the CHP stated, "Several vehicles did pull over and our officers contacted those individuals."
The fatally struck man was pronounced dead at the scene; however, as of now, there were no reported injuries among the drivers involved. The cause of the pedestrian's presence on the highway at that hour remains undetermined, but Sgt. Johnson clarified that while the condition of the pedestrian is still under investigation, drugs or alcohol have been ruled out concerning the drivers that hit him.
Caltrans San Diego later updated the public via social media to notify them that by 7 a.m., all lanes were reopened, easing the early congestion for morning commuters. However, drivers were urged to maintain patience and remain safe during the aftermath of the incident. In the hours leading up to the reopening, the authorities managed to clear the scene, and restore a semblance of normalcy to that stretch of highway—a stretch that, for a brief period, bore witness to the weight of an unspoken life lost.
Update: NB I-5 south of Dairy Mart Rd, all lanes open.
— Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) December 19, 2023
While details of the investigation are still forthcoming, the CHP is handling the case with reverence due to any such calamity, acknowledging the complexity of multiple impacts and urging anyone who might have witnessed the accident to come forward with information. "We're just asking motorists to give extra time this morning for their commute," Johnson said during the aftermath, echoing a sentiment for cautious travel on roads that bear our livelihoods and, sometimes, our sorrows.
