On Saturday a truck plunged 60 feet off the Coronado Bridge and landed in Chicano Park, according to California Highway Patrol spokesman Jake Sanchez, killing four people and injuring nine others.
The GMC truck landed on its side on top of four people, according to Chief Brian Fennessy of San Diego Fire-Rescue. The driver, alone in his truck, was southbound on Interstate 5, heading for the Coronado Bridge but failed to make the transition. The truck went through a tree before hitting the ground, according to police.
The victims had been attending the La Raza Run motorcycle rally held in Chicano Park. The crash was first reported shortly after 3:30 p.m. People attending the festival uprighted the badly damaged truck, Capt. Chuck Kaye of the San Diego Police Department said. Police officers gave medical aid to those crushed by the truck, but “to no avail,’’ Kaye said.
The truck driver, identified as Richard Anthony Sepolio — a 24-year-old, on-duty Navy serviceman stationed in Coronado — was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, causing injury or death. He could face four counts of vehicular homicide, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Sepolio was taken to UC-San Diego Medical Center for treatment; his medical condition was unavailable today. Alcohol was involved in the crash, CHP spokesman Jake Sanchez said during a Saturday press conference.
The injured victims were taken to either UC San Diego or Scripps Mercy hospitals for treatment, said Lee Swanson, spokesperson for San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. All the injured victims are adults, authorities said.
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