Sad Day On El Ku Avenue

Overturned Montero SUV on NB Centre City Pkwy.

Riding northward on El Ku Ave., heading back to San Marcos around 2:00 PM after Sam's Mule Hill To Black Canyon Training route on Monday, I heard a "whoump", looked up left and saw a silver SUV rolling over and over in a cloud of dust on Centre City Pkwy. I immediately parked my bike and tried to climb over the 7' fence, but noticed a 20' high embankment with another tall fence on top. Realizing that wouldn't work, I jumped on my bike and rode up to the next right turn, crossing over CCPkwy and onto the frontage road south.

Looking down on the scene, it was quite a mess. Soon thereafter, the first officer to arrive from the south, initially stopped at the overturned SUV, but was soon waived northward to where the body lie on near the embanked median. Putting on his rubber gloves, he checked the body, then took off the gloves and waived the fire engine paramedics forward. They covered the body.

I just shook my head and rolled my bike off the dirt and back onto hard surface. Riding north, I had no desire to cross CCPkwy again. I ended up half-lost, wandering thru unfamiliar neighborhoods and finally back on the Inland Rail Trail to San Marcos.

Here is the news report by KUSI:
  "A 21-year-old employee of a company contracted by Caltrans was killed Monday after an out-of-control SUV that struck him as he worked alongside the I-15. According to the California Highway Patrol, the victim was working on a sprinkler system in a median next to the entrance near 15 from South Centre City Parkway in Escondido when the Mitsubishi Montero hit him shortly after 2 p.m.

Officer near Caltrans Contractor after being hit by SUV

The vehicle overturned before coming to rest on its roof next to a northbound offramp from I-15. Caltrans closed that connector to through traffic to allow for investigation and cleanup.

CHP public-affairs Officer Jim Bettencourt said it was unclear what caused the SUV to careen off the roadway, though investigators suspected the driver might have been under the influence of some type of drug. 

It remained unclear in the late afternoon whether the Oceanside resident might face criminal charges over the wreck. The name of the victim, who died at the scene, was withheld pending notification of the Murrieta resident's family.

Medics took the motorist, 31-year-old Reginald Grigsby to Palomar Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. At the hospital he was arrested on suspicion of Felony DUI (Drugs) and Felony Vehicular Manslaughter.  He was transported from Palomar Hospital and booked into Vista Detention Facility."

What a sad "frickin" day for the family & me too!

-randorides