A 79-year-old man and his 77-year-old wife died Monday night after the Toyota sedan he was driving stopped on Interstate 8 in La Mesa and was hit in a multi-vehicle crash, according to the county Medical Examiner’s Office.
James Allina and Rosalyn Allina, of La Mesa, were driving east on the freeway when, for unknown reasons, their car became stationary with its lights off in the third lane near Fletcher Parkway, the Medical Examiner’s Office said.
Around 7:20 p.m., a Dodge SUV being driven by a 34-year-old woman with a 4-year-old boy riding as a passenger was unable to see the Toyota and hit the car from behind, California Highway Patrol officials said.
A Kia sedan driven by a 63-year-old woman then hit the Dodge, according to investigators. The Toyota was pushed into the far left lane, and debris from the crash damaged a passing Mercedes.
Witnesses called 911 and pulled the Allinas out of their car, officials said. The bystanders performed lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived.
James died before he could be taken to a hospital. Rosalyn was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where she died, the Medical Examiner’s Office said.
The woman and child in the SUV were taken to Sharp Grossmont Hospital for precautionary reasons. The driver in the Kia suffered minor injuries, and the driver in the Mercedes was uninjured.
It is not known if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.