One of the victims was ejected from a vehicle during the September 8, 2024 crash in Otay Mesa.
According to the San Diego Police Department, a 24-year-old woman was driving a 2012 Honda Accord southbound on La Media Road around 11:45 p.m. She was approaching Otay Mesa Road.
At that same time, a 51-year-old man was driving a 2017 Toyota Prius eastbound on Otay Mesa Road, police explained. The driver of the Honda failed to stop at the red light and collided with the Toyota.
The front passenger of the Honda was ejected from the vehicle and sustained severe facial lacerations, a left orbital fracture and a concussion. Meanwhile, the driver of the Toyota sustained a fractured sternum.
According to police, driving under the influence is suspected as a factor in the collision. The Traffic Division is investigating the incident.
The southeast San Diego community of Otay Mesa is immediately north of the U.S. border with Mexico. Although the origins of this community are uncertain, aviation pioneer John J. Montgomery made the first controlled flights in the western hemisphere using a series of gliders from the west rim of Otay Mesa in 1883 or 1884.
Today, The Otay Mesa Port of Entry is one of two border crossings within the city of San Diego. The other being the San Ysidro Port of Entry six miles to the west. Otay Mesa is the busier of the two, since authorities usually direct trucks to Otay Mesa instead of San Ysidro. Otay Mesa also houses an immigration detention center.
To relieve traffic, the government recently opened the East Otay Mesa border crossing, which is in the unincorporated area of East Otay Mesa.