1 dead, 6 badly injured in I-5 collision in Cardiff

A suspected DUI driver on marijuana caused a collision that killed another driver and severely injured herself and five others on Interstate 5 in Cardiff Saturday, March 14, the California Highway Patrol said.

Four northbound freeway lanes south of Manchester Avenue were closed for hours during an investigation.

CHP dispatchers got 911 calls that a vehicle had overturned and was on fire in the center median about 2:30 a.m., CHP Officer Kevin Smale said.

Three vehicles were blocking lanes and several injured people were out of their vehicles.

Smale said the driver of a black Toyota Scion with two passengers lost control of his car and crashed into the center divider. A man pulled over in a white Toyota Corolla to help.

Those in the Scion said they were OK and would call 911, Smale said. But at that time, he said, a high-speed Chevrolet Tahoe plowed into the Scion.

The Scion driver was killed and his two passengers suffered major injuries, Smale said. The Corolla driver who stopped to help also was struck and suffered major injuries.

Likewise, the Tahoe driver and her two female passengers had major injuries. Smale said the Tahoe driver was arrested later, suspected of being under the influence of marijuana.

No other information about the victims was released.

-- Pauline Repard is a reporter for The San Diego Union-Tribune