SAN DIEGO — A 5-year-old was killed and two other young children badly hurt after their mother, who is accused of DUI, veered off the highway and crashed down an embankment Wednesday, authorities said.
California Highway Patrol says the 27-year-old woman was driving a 2009 Hyundai Genesis with three children inside around 2:25 a.m. when she veered off northbound I-15 near Gopher Canyon Road. CHP said in a news release that the car went down an embankment and flipped.
A 5-year-old girl and 3-year-old girl were ejected from the car and a 1-year-old boy was found in a child seat inside the car, according to CHP.
Officers said the 5-year-old girl died at the scene and the two other children suffered critical injuries. They were taken by helicopter to Rady Children’s Hospital.
Kapri Raven Coleman of San Diego was booked into Las Colinas women’s jail in Santee Thursday afternoon upon her release from a hospital where she was treated for minor injuries she suffered in the predawn wreck, according to the California Highway Patrol. Authorities later confirmed that she was the kids’ mother.
CHP said alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash and the driver is expected to face multiple charges, including felony DUI causing death.
Coleman was also booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and child cruelty. She was being held on $1 million bail pending arraignment.
All lanes in the area reopened by 8 a.m.
CHP is continuing to investigate and asked anyone with information to call the CHP Oceanside office at 760-643-3400.
