4 Hurt in Coronado Bridge U-Turn That Went Wrong

A driver who tried to make a U-turn on the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge Saturday afternoon caused a multiple-car accident that sent four people to area hospitals and closed the bridge to traffic for 1 1/2 hours.

The bridge was closed at its Interstate 5 and Coronado entrances from 3 p.m. to 4:35 p.m., a Caltrans spokesman said.

Traffic was detoured south to Imperial Beach while the injured were airlifted to hospitals and three autos were towed from the mid-span collision site.

Taken to UCSD Medical Center by Life Flight helicopter were: Susan Bredeck, 35, of San Diego; Jeffrey Benson, 37, of Rohnert Park, and Raymond DeFrance, 19, whose home town was not known.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Bredeck, westbound on the bridge, attempted to make a U-turn about midway across the span and broadsided DeFrance’s pickup truck, which was traveling in the opposite direction.

Then, a second car, driven by Kim Klapperick, 43, of El Cajon, slammed into the other two vehicles.

Bredeck was undergoing surgery and listed in critical condition late Saturday.

DeFrance was listed in serious condition and Benson in fair condition.

Klapperick was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital after the accident, where she was listed in good condition Saturday night with minor injuries.

Benson was a passenger in Klapperick’s car.