Landscaper fatally struck by pickup truck in front of Valley Center High School

VALLEY CENTER — A landscaper was fatally struck by a pickup truck in front of Valley Center High School this morning. The fatal accident, which occurred on Cole Grade Road, caused traffic to back up for several hours in the area.

The victim, described only as a 30-year-old resident of Escondido, was a landscaper who worked for Davey Tree Service. He has not yet been identified, pending notification of his family.

According to CHP officials, at about 9:32 a.m., the worker stepped into the lanes of traffic on Cole Grade Road near Margarita Lane, crossing directly into the path of a southbound 2004 GMC Sierra.

The truck was reportedly traveling approximately 35 mph at the time of the accident. The driver of the GMC immediately stopped after the collision and was fully cooperating with CHP officers, who were investigating the fatal accident.

San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies, who were first to arrive, began CPR and life saving efforts on the victim. According to a CHP incident log, a life flight helicopter was called to the scene and arrived in the area within three minutes, however the victim succumbed to his injuries at the location.

Personnel from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were called to the scene, as were volunteer crisis counselors from Trauma Interventions Program.

According to CHP public information officer Jim Bettencourt, neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to be a factor in this accident.

Cole Grade Road remained partially closed for more than four hours, as CHP officers conducted their investigation into the fatal accident.