Updated April 6 @ 7:40 a.m.
Two teenagers were killed, three were hospitalized and one was jailed following a rollover crash during a street race between two cars on state Route 52, authorities said Thursday.
Five Santee teenagers were in a Volkswagen Passat and three people were in a Volvo S40, whose 18-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana, that were traveling eastbound state Route 52 near Convoy Street, headed home from a beach party at La Jolla Shores about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Art Athans.
Witnesses told the CHP that the two vehicles were racing at speeds of between 100 and 110 mph when they crashed, Athans said.
The Volkswagen's driver lost control of the car which then careened into the center divider and a bridge pillar at the Convoy Street overcrossing and flipped end over end, Athans said.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office identified the dead teenagers as Santee resident Anthony Foreman, 18, and student Jaylie James Campbell, 16. They were each rear-seat passengers in the Passat and both were ejected from the vehicle, the Medical Examiner's Office reported.
Investigators haven't determined whether they were wearing seatbelts due to the extensive damage, Athans said.
The driver of the Volkswagen, a 16-year-old boy, sustained moderate to major injuries in the crash, while the other back-seat passenger, 17-year-old boy, sustained major internal injuries, according to the CHP. The front-seat passenger, a 15-year-old girl sustained major head trauma and is reported in grave condition and on life support, Athans said.
The three teens were taken by ambulances to Sharp Memorial Hospital.
The Volkswagen's driver was evaluated but determined not to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash, according to the CHP. The 16-year-old is reported to have had his license for less than five months- in violation of his provisional license, Athans said. Teens licensed for less than one year are not allowed to carry more than one passenger less than 20 years old and must have an adult in the car if
The Volvo's driver, 18-year-old Michael S. Johnson of Lakeside, was arrested and booked into San Diego County Jail for suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of marijuana and racing in a speed contest causing injury, Athans said.
A small amount of marijuana was found in the Volvo, according to Athans.
Johnson was released from jail this afternoon after posting bail, which was set at $50,000, U-T San Diego reported.
The Volvo did not crash and no one in it was injured.
-City News Service
