Published: May 30, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(San Diego, CA) – Two men were killed early Friday in a wrong-way collision on Interstate 5 just north of San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood.
The California Highway Patrol reported that a blue Dodge Durango and a white Honda CRV came together on southbound I-5, south of Laurel Street, at roughly 2:59 a.m. The 56-year-old man driving the Dodge, a resident of El Cajon, was declared dead at the scene, while the Honda’s driver, a 62-year-old man, was taken to UCSD Medical Center and died of his injuries about an hour later.
According to the CHP, a wrong-way driver was involved, though the agency did not specify which vehicle had been heading north in the southbound lanes of the I-5. Investigators expect the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office to produce a toxicology report that will show whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
The CHP’s San Diego Area office is continuing to investigate and has asked anyone who witnessed the collision to call (858) 293-6000. Caltrans said the wreck forced a traffic diversion at Washington Street and a shutdown of the Kettner Boulevard on-ramp; all lanes were briefly closed, two reopened by 5:30 a.m., and the remainder roughly an hour after that.
Analysis of the I-5 Wrong-Way Collision
A wrong-way collision on a freeway raises a number of questions that investigators typically work through before any conclusions can be drawn. Because the CHP has said a wrong-way vehicle was involved but has not yet identified which car was traveling against traffic, the direction of travel of each vehicle remains a central open issue. The discussion below is general and does not assign fault to anyone; it simply outlines the legal framework that can become relevant when the facts are established.
Where evidence shows that a driver was operating a vehicle against the flow of traffic, investigators commonly examine whether conduct rose to the level of reckless driving under California Vehicle Code section 23103, which defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Speed can also be a factor in any freeway collision; the Basic Speed Law in California Vehicle Code section 22350 requires that a driver travel no faster than is reasonable and prudent for conditions. Whether either statute applies here depends entirely on facts that have not yet been determined.
The pending toxicology report may also bear on the analysis. If testing were to show that a driver was under the influence, California Vehicle Code section 23152 makes it unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and California Vehicle Code section 23153 addresses driving under the influence that proximately results in injury to another person. In a case involving a death, prosecutors and investigators may also consider whether the elements of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated under California Penal Code section 191.5 are present. None of these provisions should be read as a statement about what occurred; they describe only the kinds of issues that toxicology results and other evidence could ultimately frame.
In the civil context, California applies comparative fault principles under Civil Code section 1431.2, which allocates non-economic damages in proportion to each party's share of responsibility. Where two drivers have died, the apportionment of any liability between them often turns on accident reconstruction and physical evidence rather than initial reports.
What Families Can Do
Families who have lost a loved one in a freeway collision face both grief and a set of legal deadlines that can affect their options. California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 identifies the heirs who may bring a wrongful death action, and section 377.30 governs survival claims that pass to a decedent's successor in interest. The general statute of limitations for personal injury actions under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 is two years, and shorter deadlines can apply when a public entity may be involved. Obtaining the CHP collision report, preserving any available physical and toxicology evidence, and following up on insurance coverage questions early can help protect a family's rights while the investigation continues. Anyone with questions about their situation can To discuss a specific situation, call or text (888) 800-6731 or click here for a free case review..
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. RSS_TIMES_OF_SD – : https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2026/05/29/killed-wrong-way-crash-interstate-5/
