ESCONDIDO (CBS 8) - The CHP is trying to determine what led to a deadly crash on Interstate 15 in Escondido.
Derek Millsap, 22, was killed when he lost control of his sports car and slammed into a light pole. Millsap's father Derek says it feels like his heart has been ripped out of his chest as he grieves the loss of his son.
The Escondido man died Tuesday night when his Nissan 370Z hit a light pole on the shoulder of southbound Interstate 15 near Via Rancho Parkway, then veered across lanes, crashing into the center divider. Paramedics pronounced the Cal State San Marcos senior dead at the scene.
"Any time officers respond to a collision like this, we don't take it lightly. It affects the officers that are on the scene of the collision investigating it," CHP officer Jim Bettancourt said.
Witnesses told the CHP the criminal justice major entered the freeway onramp with the driver of a black Nissan Titan pickup with tinted windows. They told officers both men were going at a high rate of speed. What happened next is still being closely investigated.
"We just want to do the right thing for the family. We want to make sure we get all the information in this investigation so they can have some peace," Bettancourt said.
While Millsap hopes the other driver comes forward, he's mainly focusing on his son, whom he called his best friend.
"He could make anybody laugh. He made everybody laugh. He knew jokes that would just make you fall on the floor," he said.
He recalled great times involving a friendly poker game, or a recent trip to see the Chargers.
"It was a great game and we had a beer or two… we just had a great time," Millsap said.
He says his son, who wanted to work in surveillance, perhaps with the FBI, loved his family, friends, his job at the Poway Costco store and giving back to his community.
"He just loved people, loved to help people and gave himself 100 percent," he said.
Millsap knows nothing can bring his boy back into his arms, but he says he'll never forget "Little D," who grew up as a standout second baseman.
"He never disappointed me, always did everything I asked him to do. He was competitive like me," he said.
