Fatal accident on South Mission knocks out power, closes road

A fatal single-car accident on South Mission Road, just south of Green Canyon Road, at approximately 12:55 a.m. Sunday morning, November 2, caused a significant power outage in the area and forced the closure of the main artery into Fallbrook.

The driver of the vehicle, German Cruz Santiago, 32, of Vista, was driving a blue Toyota Camry at a high rate of speed southbound on South Mission when he apparently lost control of the vehicle while trying to negotiate a turn.

Santiago’s vehicle exited the roadway and traveled up a steep embankment, causing the car to roll onto its side and strike a wooden power pole.

The impact caused the roof to be sheared off the vehicle and tore the utility pole from the ground. As a result, high voltage power lines were brought to the ground.

South Mission was closed to through traffic for several hours as San Diego Gas & Electric workers restored power to the area.

The driver, confirmed dead at the scene by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers and paramedics, was ejected from the vehicle although he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of accident.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause of death was determined to be blunt force injury to the head.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the CHP.

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