SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — A 69-year-old man was killed Friday when the SUV he was driving crashed off State Route 54 near San Diego Bay and plunged into Sweetwater River, according to California Highway Patrol.
A woman told police a car veered by her, nearly hitting her, as she was walking along a path near the river and went into the water around 5:40 a.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt said.
Arriving officers confirmed a body was found in the water. Harbor Police divers were called to help pull the victim from the water, Bettencourt said.
The driver and sole occupant of the Lexus SUV died at the scene, CHP public-affairs Officer Sal Castro said. The victim's name was withheld pending family notification.
One lane on the connector ramp from westbound SR-54 to southbound I-5 was closed for several hours due to the accident, Castro said.
