Five Fatal Traffic Accidents in San Diego County Claim Lives of Residents and Homeless Individuals
Comprehensive News Report
Authorities in San Diego County have released the identities of five individuals who tragically lost their lives in separate traffic accidents that occurred over the past week. The fatal incidents happened in different parts of the county, involving both pedestrians and motorists.
Mark Maisel’s Fatal Accident
The most recent accident claimed the life of 70-year-old Mark Maisel of San Diego. On Sunday afternoon, Maisel was walking his dog with his wife near their home in the Carmel Valley neighborhood when he was struck by a vehicle. The incident occurred in the 5000 block of Brookburn Drive. Emergency responders transported Maisel to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 7 p.m.
Edward Ames’ Fatal Accident
Two days prior, another fatal accident took place on state Route 94 in Lemon Grove. On Friday just after 5 p.m., 77-year-old Edward Ames, who was reportedly homeless, was driving a Ford SUV westbound on the freeway. As he approached Massachusetts Avenue, his vehicle veered to the left, collided with a pickup truck, and overturned. The SUV rolled multiple times before coming to rest on the road. Emergency crews rushed Ames to Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest, where he succumbed to his injuries about an hour later.
Other Fatal Accidents
Earlier in the week, on Thursday at approximately 3:30 a.m., another fatal crash occurred along westbound state Route 94 near state Route 15 in the Fairmount Park area. Authorities found 34-year-old Sahil Bajaj of San Diego severely injured inside a Lucid sedan that had crashed off the highway and landed on an embankment. Unfortunately, Bajaj died at the scene before medical assistance could save him.
Additionally, on Wednesday morning, 38-year-old Ryan Szelagowski, a homeless man, was killed in Carlsbad. According to reports from the Medical Examiner’s Office, Szelagowski was standing in the roadway in the 6600 block of Carlsbad Boulevard when he was struck by a northbound Kia sedan around 4:55 a.m. Although he was able to stand up after the initial impact, he was hit again by a second vehicle while walking in the road. The second driver did not stop and fled the scene. Emergency responders transported Szelagowski to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where he was pronounced dead later that afternoon.
The earliest of the five fatal accidents took place on March 31 in the Oceanside area. That morning, a driver of a Chevrolet pickup truck traveling northbound on Interstate 5, south of Las Pulgas Road, struck an unknown object in the roadway. After pulling over and calling 911, emergency crews arrived and discovered the body of 30-year-old Marcos Mauro near the center divider wall of the freeway around 5 a.m. Mauro’s place of residence remains unknown.
Investigation and Response
The Medical Examiner’s Office and local authorities are continuing their investigations into the circumstances surrounding each of these fatal crashes. Authorities are urging drivers and pedestrians alike to exercise caution, especially in areas with high traffic or poor visibility. Law enforcement agencies are also continuing efforts to identify and locate the driver responsible for the hit-and-run incident that claimed Szelagowski’s life.
Community Reaction
These tragic incidents have highlighted the dangers present on San Diego County roads and freeways, affecting a range of individuals from various walks of life, including residents, homeless individuals, and motorists. As investigations proceed, the community mourns the loss of these five individuals whose lives were tragically cut short on the roads of San Diego County.
