RivCo woman seriously injured in fatal I-15 multi-vehicle crash

Her passenger, a 32-year-old woman from Compton, was killed in the five-vehicle wreck believed to be caused by intoxicated drivers.

Jun 20, 2024 12:16 PDT

BONSALL, CA – A fatal five-car pileup was caused by intoxicated drivers late Wednesday evening on Interstate 15 south of Temecula, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The wreck left a Perris woman with serious life-threatening injuries and her passenger was killed.

Wednesday around 11:40 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers responded to reports of a multi-vehicle crash on the southbound side of the highway, south of Old Highway 395, near Bonsall in unincorporated northern San Diego County, CHP officer said Hunter Gerber.

Mark Anthony Bengal, 26, of Chula Vista, was driving a Chevrolet Colorado pickup southbound on I-15 when, for reasons still under investigation, he rear-ended a Nissan Titan. The Chevy became disabled and was struck by a Volkswagen Tiguan driven by Phillip Mattson, 80, of Encinitas, Gerber said.

Both men would subsequently be arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

A Toyota Camry then struck the rear of the Volkswagen, and a Kia Soul sideswiped the front left side of the Chevy, he said.

Two 32-year-old women were in the Camry. The right front passenger, from Compton, died at the scene. The driver, from Perris, was taken by ambulance to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, the officer said.

All others involved suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

The CHP is still investigating the fatal crash. The agency is asking anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident to call the CHP office in Oceanside at 760-643-3400.