San Marcos was the site of a severe DUI crash on Wednesday afternoon when a Nissan minivan and a Lexus sedan collided head-on at a local intersection. The incident, which occurred at approximately 3:23 p.m. at the corner of Cox Road and Mulberry Drive, resulted in life-threatening injuries for the driver of the Lexus. This 22-year-old male was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. The driver of the Nissan, identified as 42-year-old Manuel Villanueva, sustained minor injuries and was also treated at a local hospital. The San Diego Sheriff's Department reported that Villanueva was later arrested on suspicion of DUI and reckless driving.
The collision unraveled after Villanueva, driving the Nissan, attempted to pass another vehicle and sideswiped it before crashing into the Lexus. Witnesses recounted the harrowing scene, piecing together the events that led to the accident. Following the crash, deputies from the San Marcos Sheriff's Station's Traffic Unit responded to the scene and are overseeing the investigation into the cause of the collision.
San Marcos Sheriff's Station officials are calling for additional witnesses to come forward and provide further details to help the ongoing investigation. The aftermath of the crash impacted traffic in the area for several hours as the intersection was closed for cleanup and preliminary investigations.
