34-year-old man killed in solo vehicle wreck off side of I-15 in Escondido

ESCONDIDO (KUSI) – A 34-year-old Menifee man was killed Monday morning in a solo vehicle crash off the side of an Interstate 15 onramp in Escondido, authorities said.

The crash was reported shortly before 6 a.m. on southbound I-15 near the end of the Via Rancho Parkway onramp, California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Latulippe said.

The 34-year-old man was driving a Nissan Kicks compact SUV southbound on I-15 when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle veered to the right across all highway lanes, crossed the onramp and crashed through a guardrail before ending up about 50 feet off the roadway, Latulippe said.

A CHP officer spotted the wrecked vehicle as he was making a turn at Via Rancho Parkway and went over to help the injured driver, Latulippe said.

The officer attempted life-saving measures until paramedics took over, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. The man’s name was withheld pending family notification.

Authorities shut down the onramp from Via Rancho Parkway to southbound I-15 for the crash investigation and cleanup.

As of 8:55 a.m., traffic on the southbound highway was backed up past Deer Springs Road.