VISTA (CBS 8/CNS) - An alcohol-fueled head-on collision during a street race in Vista early Monday sent five people to a hospital.
A suspected drunken driver behind the wheel of a Ford Focus lost control while racing another vehicle on East Bobier Drive at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, which caused the car to go over the raised center median and hit a sign as it crossed into oncoming traffic near Heidi Circle, sheriff's Deputy Jason Ferguson said. The Ford slammed into a Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan in the eastbound lanes shortly after 12:30 a.m. and rolled.
One of the Ford's occupants ran off after the crash, leaving three people trapped in the wreckage. Ferguson said firefighters cut them out of the car before they were taken to a hospital to be treated for possibly life-threatening injuries.
The Mercedes' driver and passenger suffered injuries of unknown severity and were also hospitalized, according to the deputy.
Firefighters reported that they found a 40-ounce beer bottle at the scene by East Bobier Drive and Heidi Circle.
Ferguson asked any witnesses to the crash who did not provide a statement to investigators at the scene to call him at (760) 940-4910. Those with additional information on the crash were asked to call the sheriff's department's non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.