Traffic & Transit
Man ID'd In Deadly I-15 Crash In San Diego's North County
The 34-year-old man was killed Monday in a solo vehicle crash off the side of an Interstate 15 onramp in Escondido, according to the CHP.
ESCONDIDO, CA — A Riverside County man was killed Monday in a crash off Interstate 15 in San Diego County. Though the coroner's office has yet to publicly identify him, loved ones posted Monday that he was 34-year-old Teel Whitton of Menifee, a father of two described as the "most selfless, loving person."
According to the California Highway Patrol, Whitton's SUV crashed off the side of the southbound side of the freeway around 6 a.m., near the end of the Via Rancho Parkway onramp in Escondido. No other vehicles were involved.
Whitton was driving a Nissan Kicks compact SUV southbound in the far left lane of the I-15 when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle veered to the right across all highway lanes, crossed the onramp and crashed through a guardrail before ending up about 50 feet off the roadway, CHP Officer Officer Mark Latulippe said.
Find out what's happening in Escondidowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A CHP officer spotted the wrecked vehicle as he was making a turn at Via Rancho Parkway and stopped to help the injured driver, Latulippe said. The officer attempted life-saving measures until paramedics took over, he said, but Whitton was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities shut down the onramp from Via Rancho Parkway to southbound I-15 for the crash investigation and cleanup. The ramp was reopened around 9:05 a.m.
Find out what's happening in Escondidowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- Previous coverage: Man Killed In Crash Off Side Of I-15 In Escondido
Whitton leaves behind a wife and two young children, ages 3 and 1, according to a GoFundMe set up to help his family.
"Everything he did was for [his kids]," the page says. "And on top of that he was so funny, a perfect part of the family in everyone’s eyes. He would always been there to help fix someone’s car that needed work, help with your backyard projects, and with anything else, if he didn’t know he’d figure out a way to help."
Whitton was the sole provider for his family and the GoFundMe is to help them. Click here if you'd like to donate.
By Renee Schiavone/Patch; City News Service contributed to this report .
GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.
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