Oceanside man ejected from SUV, dies in South O.C. freeway rollover crash

A motorist who may not have been wearing his seat belt died after his vehicle rolled over in a freeway traffic collision in San Clemente on the morning of Monday, Nov. 19.

The California Highway Patrol said its preliminary investigation suggests that a Toyota 4Runner side-swiped a Ford Fusion at about 6 a.m. on the southbound 5 Freeway, south of Avenida Palizada. It said a 22-year-old Oceanside man driving the SUV lost control and was ejected from the vehicle, which eventually landed on its roof.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP said. A 23-year-old Carlsbad woman driving the sedan involved in the crash was unharmed and cooperated with investigators. No other people were involved in the collision.

It was not immediately clear to authorities if drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident, a CHP news release said.

The Orange County Coroner’s Office was withholding the identity of the man who died, pending notification of his next of kin.