SAN DIEGO—Two people were killed and a third was injured when an SUV crashed into a California bus stop.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports two men died when the vehicle crashed into a bus stop in San Diego around 11 a.m. Thursday.
A 49-year-old woman was taken to a hospital, where she was listed in critical condition.
“San Diego Police Department officials said the trio—two men, aged 40 and 43, and a woman, aged 49—were likely homeless,” according to NBC7.
Witnesses told the station the trio was frequently seen on the Metropolitan Avenue.
According to authorities, the driver of the SUV showed no signs of alcohol or drugs after he completed a sobriety test.
The 22-year-old driver was not treated at the scene, sustaining only minor injuries.
UPDATE: Officials confirm 2 people have died in this crash; the third victim is in critical condition. https://t.co/dwpi6gE77D
— #NBC7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) July 4, 2019
Authorities say the cause of the accident in the Mission Valley neighborhood is under investigation.
“There’s always a cause for an accident and that’s what we’re here trying to find out, what the cause is,” San Diego Police Department Lt. Duane Voss told NBC 7.
Fatal Car Crash Statistics
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, analyzing data from the Department of Transportation, there were 37,133 deaths from car accidents in 2017, the last year full data is available for. The deaths occurred across 34,247 fatal motor vehicle accidents.
The number means 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.16 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, although those numbers can vary widely across states.
The majority of fatal accidents are single-vehicle crashes, the institute noted.
Pedestrian fatalities declined by about 2 percent.
In comparison, there was an increase of about 6.5 percent from 2015 to 2016 and an increase of about 8 percent from 2014 to 2015.
While deaths in both categories declined, officials said more can be done.
“Dangerous actions such as speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence are still putting many Americans, their families and those they share the road with at risk,” said National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Deputy Administrator Heidi King in a statement. “Additionally, we must address the emerging trend of drug-impaired driving to ensure we are reducing traffic fatalities and keeping our roadways safe for the traveling public.”
NTD News staff contributed to this article.
