In the early morning hours of August 17, 2024, a person apparently lost control of his/her vehicle on the northbound Interstate 15 transition ramp to the eastbound lanes of State Route 78 in Escondido.
First responders arrived to find that a guardrail had gone through an Acura sedan. The driver, who was the only occupant, died at the scene, the CHP reported.
The transition ramp was temporarily closed for an investigation and repairs, the victim’s identity was not immediately available, and the cause of the accident was unclear.
Escondido (“Hidden”) is one of the oldest communities in the San Diego area. The Escondido area was first settled by the Luiseño, who established campsites and villages along the creek running through the area. They named the place Mixéelum Pompáwvo or “Mehel-om-pom-pavo.” The Luiseno also had another village north of Mixéelum Pompáwvo called Panakare. The Kumeyaay migrated from areas near the Colorado River, settling both in the San Pasqual Valley and near the San Dieguito River in the southwestern and western portions of what is now Escondido. Most of the villages and campsites today have been destroyed by development and agriculture.
In modern times, by the 1960s, avocados became the largest local crop. Since the 1970s, Escondido has lost most of its agricultural land to housing developments, but still retains a significant agricultural presence in the San Pasqual Valley, including vineyards, citrus orchards, and avocado orchards.