Teen driver splits car in half in wreck

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A 17-year-old boy was hospitalized in serious condition today after his vehicle struck a light pole, broke in half and slid upside down across three lanes of a state highway, authorities said.

Speed and alcohol appeared to be a factor in the crash, which began on the eastbound lanes of San Miguel Ranch Road, and ended on the median strip of State Route 125, according to the Chula Vista Police Department.

The teen driver's Honda S2000 struck a light pole and split in two, with the front third of the vehicle — including the driver — sliding on its roof down an embankment and across the three southbound lanes of the highway at about 1:05 a.m., Chula Vista police Lt. Mark Jones said.

The rear portion of the car remained near the pole on San Miguel Ranch Road, police officials said.

“Everything behind the driver's seat is up here,” Jones said, in a phone interview from the scene of the accident. “Everything in front of the driver's seat went down the hill, upside down.”

The driver was initially conscious following the crash, and was taken to a hospital to be treated for head injuries, police said. He remained in serious condition, police officials said.

No other vehicles were involved, Jones said, but one southbound lane of the highway was closed for 30 minutes.

Jones said it was not clear what charges the driver might face.