Two people were killed and two others were injured after their car crashed with another while turning from a Chula Vista street Monday night, police said.
The passengers, who have not yet been identified, were two couples coming home from a church event when their vehicle crashed at the intersection of Apache Drive and Telegraph Canyon Road around 8 p.m., according to Chula Vista police.
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The white Subaru Forester was headed east on Telegraph Canyon Road, making a left turn onto Apache Drive, when a red Ford Mustang, traveling west on Telegraph, broad-sided the vehicle, CVPD said.
The Subaru overturned, and the four occupants were trapped in the car, forcing emergency crews to use tools to cut open the vehicle to extract the passengers, CVPD said.
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The driver of the Subaru, identified by police as a 75-year-old man, died at the scene. A 76-year-old man who was the front passenger was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, officials said.
Two women in their 60s in the backseat of the Subaru were also taken to the hospital.
The driver of the Mustang, identified by police as a 41-year-old man, remained on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. Police said he was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Police say they don’t know which driver was at fault in this crash, but they do know neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor.
The two couples were members at the Most Precious Blood Catholic Church for decades. At Tuesday morning’s mass, NBC 7 was told worshippers cried when they learned about the men’s deaths.
NBC 7 spoke with neighbors who said they could use a traffic light at the intersection where the crash occurred.
“I’m on a wing and a prayer every time I have to make the left turn coming home,” said Betty Kuite, who lives in the Charter Point neighborhood connected to the intersection.
EMT and neighbor Gage Ford said there are several older residents in Charter Point, and he worries for their safety.
“We see it pretty often, but it’s just a sad scene every time,” said EMT and neighbor Gage Ford. “Just slow down a little bit, you know. There are a lot of elderly people who live in Charter Point, and I’m not saying they shouldn’t be driving, but you’ve got to be courteous.”
Chula Vista Mayor John McCann told NBC 7 the city is working to find ways to slow cars down, and if it’s warranted, the city could put in a stoplight.
The CVPD Traffic Bureau is investigating the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has additional information is asked to contact the Chula Vista Police Department Traffic Bureau at 619-409-5833.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
