San Marcos
A 21-year-old Camp Pendleton Marine was killed when the truck he was driving plunged down an embankment Tuesday in San Marcos, officials said.
The Marine was driving east on California 78 just west of the Mission Avenue undercrossing when the truck went down the slope on the south side of the road, hit trees and overturned at 2:45 p.m., said Deputy Coroner Jerry Hillgrand.
The Marine’s name was not released pending notification of kin.
A passenger, Cpl. Joe L. Esparza, was ejected. He was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Esparza suffered a fractured pelvis and was listed in critical but stable condition Pederson said.
The driver was pinned in the truck’s cab and killed immediately, Hillgrand said.
California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Ward said the CHP is investigating a report from one witness that a red Toyota pickup truck entered the highway at Barham Drive and cut the truck off, causing the driver to move into the fast lane and lose control.
“We have only one witness,” Ward said. “We are hoping, if any one saw anything, that they will come forward.”
The truck was delivering supplies to the Marine Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., Pederson said.
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