A speeding 2018 Dodge Charger veered off East Harbor Drive near Schley Street in Barrio Logan around 3 a.m. Saturday, slamming into a parked Kia and several fixed objects before all three people inside were thrown from the car. One of them later died at the hospital, while the other two suffered severe, life-altering injuries in a crash where DUI was suspected.
According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, officers responded to the 2500 block of East Harbor Drive and found the Charger had struck the parked Kia and multiple fixed objects, ejecting all three occupants. As reported by CBS 8, the vehicle veered to the right at high speed before striking the parked car and the fixed objects in sequence, describing how that impact sent all three occupants out of the car.
Officer David O'Brien said one passenger suffered an amputated right foot along with burns and lacerations, while a third passenger sustained severe head trauma, per the Union-Tribune's report. All three occupants were taken to a hospital, where one of them later died. Police suspected the Charger's driver was intoxicated.
A Dangerous Stretch of Road
The surrounding area includes industrial lands and mixed uses. In June 2025, Caltrans announced more than $5 billion in statewide investments.
This is not the first severe crash to hit this stretch of road. In November 2024, Hoodline reported on a crash tied to driver fatigue on the 3500 block of Harbor Drive that left two people critically injured. Then in June 2025, a 24-year-old driver died after ramming a forklift in another late-night Harbor Drive collision, according to prior Hoodline coverage.
A Citywide Pattern of Rising Traffic Deaths
This crash lands amid a broader trend of worsening traffic safety across San Diego. Regional data compiled by UC Berkeley and reported by KPBS showed traffic fatalities in San Diego rose 47.4%, from 78 deaths in 2014 to 115 in 2024, even as SDPD traffic stops dropped 56.9% over the same period. Separately, San Diego traffic fatalities stayed above 100 every year from 2020 through 2024, despite San Diego adopting a Vision Zero goal in 2015 aimed at eliminating traffic deaths by 2025.
Hoodline reported earlier this month on another San Diego traffic incident. Police have also stepped up enforcement in the area: SDPD and the California Highway Patrol conducted an operation that impounded 13 vehicles and led to two arrests.
Why Ejection Made the Crash So Deadly
Safety researchers say the mechanics of this crash — three occupants thrown from a vehicle — carry an especially high mortality risk. Federal statistics compiled by NHTSA show that more than 75% of people ejected in fatal crashes die from their injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that lap and shoulder belts cut the risk of fatal injury by 45%.
Possible Charges Ahead
Investigators have not yet said whether the surviving driver will face charges, but possible charges would depend on whether the DUI suspicion is confirmed.
The identities of the deceased passenger, the surviving victims, and the driver have not been released. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the SDPD Traffic Division or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
