SANTEE, CALIFORNIA – One person is dead and three others are injured after a crash that, witnesses say, may have been the result of street racing.
The crash happened Saturday morning in Santee at the intersection of Mast Boulevard and Halberns Boulevard. As a result, Mast Boulevard was closed in both directions for about two hours Saturday afternoon, while emergency crews cleaned up the site. The road has since opened, but investigators are still looking into how this tragic accident happened.
“I’m still trying to pull myself together, I do not wish that on anybody,” said Santee Resident Danielle Stratten.
Nineteen-year-old Danielle Stratten is still shaken over the accident that happened just feet from her Santee home Saturday morning.
Around 11 a.m., witnesses say two cars appeared to be racing on Westbound Mast Boulevard, when the red Dodge lost control, jumped over the median and crashed into a pick-up truck going the other direction.
Carla Stratten was one of the first people to call 911.
“The driver, I was looking at him trying to figure out if he was ok, but he was knocked out. And then I noticed in his lap that evidently another person was in the front and there was somebody in the back,” said Carla Stratten.
She also says the three people in the car appeared to be teenagers. One person was dead by the time emergency crews arrived and another was flown to Sharp Memorial Hospital. A third victim, as well as the driver of the truck, was taken by ambulance.
Neighbors say unfortunately this situation happens too often since Mast Boulevard, a major thoroughfare on the northern edge of town, is a magnet for speeders.
“There’s accidents…cars going into people’s homes, jumping curbs and sidewalks, today unfortunately, fatality,” said Santee Resident Kimberly Verdzco. “It’s troubling because that indicates there is nothing being done.”
Danielle just hopes that action is taken sooner than later.
“People need to keep in consideration this is a neighborhood, there’s kids here. You can’t do that. I’m 19-years-old and people think oh she’s young and dumb too. No I follow the rules because of this,” said Danielle Stratten.
Witnesses say the other vehicle that was allegedly racing with the Dodge Neon could have been a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse.
If you have any information, you’re asked to call the Santee Police Department.
Meanwhile, News 8 spoke with the brother of the driver in the pick-up truck.
The man says his brother was treated at a local hospital and is said to be in good condition.
If you have been injured in a car accident or truck accident in Santee, California call us now for a free consultation at 800-816-1529.
I am sure that many of you have heard the term “Black Box” data recorders which are usually associated with airplanes and airplane accidents.