Woman dead in vehicle rollover on Interstate 8

An 83-year-old woman is dead after being involved in a rollover crash that happened on eastbound Interstate 8, east of In Ko Pah Park Road Friday morning.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), 73-year-old Leonila Aguilar, of Yuma, was traveling with her sisters from San Diego to Arizona in her 2011 Nissan Rouge on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 8, east of In Ko Pah Park Road.

Authorities said the evidence found at the scene showed that the Nissan moved to the left of the first lane, off of the roadway before moving quickly to the right, and into the open desert. That’s where authorities said the vehicle rolled over several times before coming to rest in a trench on its side, facing west.

The driver suffered serious injuries to her body. The front passenger, 70-year-old Rosa Huante , of Yuma, suffered moderate injuries and complained of pain. The left rear passenger, an 83-year-old woman of Encinitas, Calif., died in the crash.

CHP added runners on the west side of Interstate 8 heard the crash and hurried to the scene to help the passengers of the vehicle and also called 911. The driver and passengers were wearing their seatbelts during the rollover. CHP said alcohol or drugs were not a factor in this collision.

Huante was transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center. Aguilar was transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital.

CHP Officer Javier Amezcua was near the area traveling to San Diego and responded after learning of the collision. Good Samaritans on the scene helped Officer Amezcua extricate the passengers for treatment until other units arrived.

” Thank you, I couldn’t have removed the occupants of the vehicle without your help, ” Officer Amezcua said.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation.