Multi-vehicle crash disrupts traffic on southbound I-15 in North County

ESCONDIDO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A crash involving an overturned SUV and semi-truck shut down lanes on southbound Interstate 15 near State Route 76 early Friday morning, causing traffic disruptions in the area. According to a Sig Alert from California Highway Patrol, the collision was reported just before 3 a.m. on southbound I-15 at the SR-78 interchange in Escondido. Initial dispatch reported indicated one vehicle went off the freeway and came to rest underneath the I-15 overpass. A semi-truck reportedly moved from the slow lane into the fast lane following the crash, and debris was scattered across the roadway. CHP determined that a total of three vehicles were involved: a Ford Bronco, a BMW and a semi-truck. The Sig Alert indicated that the Bronco overturned, with one occupant initially trapped inside. Dispatch records later noted the person made it out of the vehicle, along with the others involved. An ambulance responded to the scene as crews worked to clear the wreckage. The crash blocked multiple southbound lanes, prompting officers to conduct a slow traffic break. Authorities also temporarily shutdown the westbound SR-78 transition ramp to southbound I-15 to allow emergency crews to work safely. That ramp has since reopened. Tow trucks were requested for the vehicles. According to CHP, cleanup efforts were complicated by an estimated 20-gallon oil spill that reportedly smeared across two lanes for roughly 100 yards. Caltrans maintenance crews responded and officials gradually reopened lanes, though the two left lanes remain closed while crews completed cleanup operations. CHP confirmed all lanes reopened around 7:30 a.m. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was seriously injured. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.