East County News Service
May 4, 2026 (La Mesa) — A late-night chain-reaction crash involving a semi-truck and two passenger vehicles on Interstate 8 claimed the life of a young El Cajon man early Saturday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision occurred at about 1:37 a.m. on May 2, west of Fletcher Parkway. Investigators say a 28-year-old El Cajon man was traveling eastbound in a 2022 Ford Ranger when he struck the rear of a Volvo T680 tractor-trailer.
The semi-truck, driven by a 33-year-old El Cajon resident, was traveling at about 45 mph at the time of the initial impact.
Moments after the first collision, a 2020 Toyota C-HR — driven by a 64-year-old man with a 61-year-old female passenger, both from El Cajon — approached the scene at an estimated 70 mph. According to authorities, the driver of the Toyota did not see the wreckage in time to react and collided with both the Ford and the Volvo.
Emergency responders transported the driver of the Ford Ranger to Sharp Memorial Hospital with major injuries. Despite life-saving efforts, medical personnel later pronounced him deceased.
The occupants of the Toyota were taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital with minor injuries, while the driver of the Volvo semi-truck was unhurt.
“Excessive speed reduces reaction time and limits your ability to identify hazards ahead,” said CHP Captain Michael Monteagudo. “Maintain a safe speed, scan the roadway continuously, and anticipate changing conditions. Stay focused and give yourself the time and space needed to arrive safely.”
The identity of the deceased has not yet been released pending notification of kin. The CHP is continuing its investigation into the cause of the crash, and it is currently unknown if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the incident.
Traffic on eastbound I-8 was significantly impacted for several hours Saturday morning as crews worked to clear the debris and investigators documented the scene.