Man, woman and their two dogs perish in fiery crash on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton

SAN ONOFRE - A man, a woman and their two dogs were killed as their pickup truck hit a pole and exploded on Interstate 5 at the San Onofre truck weigh station, a California Highway Patrol officer said today.

The driver was spotted inside the wreckage yelling for help, but was unable to get the door open before the truck burst into flames, according to CHP Officer Jim Bettencourt. The male driver and female passenger died at the scene.

They had been headed south on the freeway in a silver Chevy Silverado at an unknown speed about 10:40 p.m. Saturday, March 2.

A witness who was changing a tire on the roadside reported seeing the pickup truck strike a pole and explode, Bettencourt said. The pole supports a scanner that allows certain commercial vehicles to bypass the scales.

"Due to the severity of the fire and the vehicle damage, positive identification is not known at this time,'' Bettencourt said in a statement.

Two dogs also died, he said.

Camp Pendleton firefighters responded, the CHP officer said. Three of the four freeway lanes were blocked for 1-1/2 hours.

The crash remains under investigation, Bettencourt said, and it was not yet known if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.

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Fiery crash on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton claims at least one life

OCEANSIDE - At least one person was killed in a fiery crash when a vehicle hit a pole on Interstate 5 Freeway north of the Border Patrol Checkpoint in Oceanside and burst into flames, the California Highway Patrol said today.

The crash occurred at 10:41 p.m. Saturday, March 2, according to a CHP statement.

A witness reported seeing a white pickup truck strike a light pole and explode, southbound on the San Diego Freeway, the CHP said.

"U.S. Border Patrol agents advised they didn't see anyone get out of the vehicle,'' the CHP said. "Vehicle is fully engulfed.''

The truck reportedly also hit a device used to measure semi-tractors when they are weighed, according to the statement.

Camp Pendleton firefighters responded, the CHP said.

Three of the four freeway lanes were blocked for 1 1/2 hours and lanes 3 and 4 remained closed as of 12:19 a.m.