SAN DIEGO, CA – Two people, including a La Mesa police officer, were killed Monday night in a multi-vehicle crash on I-8 East near Fairmount Avenue in San Diego’s College Area, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
CHP Captain Reggie Williams reported that the crash occurred around 10:22 p.m., when a vehicle traveling eastbound lost control, overturned, and came to a stop on the freeway lanes. Moments later, another car traveling in the same direction struck the overturned vehicle.
While returning from the San Diego Central Jail, La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven, 25, stopped to assist the drivers and document the incident.
Tragically, another vehicle traveling eastbound on I-8 hit the officer, killing her at the scene along with the driver involved in the initial rollover crash. Officer Craven joined the La Mesa Police Department in February 2024 and was assigned to the Patrol Division.
Following the incident, CHP issued a Sigalert and shut down all eastbound lanes of I-8 between I-15 and Waring Road. The full closure is expected to last until at least noon, with traffic being diverted to southbound I-15 and the Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road exits.
The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the cause of the crash. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the other driver who died or the condition of those involved.
