3 die when car hits 9 people in San Diego; driver in custody

SAN DIEGO — A driver plowed through a crowd on a sidewalk under an overpass with homeless tents on a rainy Monday morning in downtown San Diego, killing three people and injuring six others, including two who are hospitalized in critical condition, police said.

The driver — whom authorities identified only as a 71-year-old man — appeared to lose control of his Volvo station wagon shortly after 9 a.m. near a community college, said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. He was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired.

“For whatever reason, (the driver) veered to the right, went up on the sidewalk, struck multiple pedestrians there and then came back on to the roadway,” Nisleit said.

What we know about the tragic crash near San Diego City College in downtown:
-Driver veered onto sidewalk under tunnel
-9 people hit by car, 3 killed
-2 people in critical condition
-71 y/o driver was impaired: SDPD
-Driver detained

From the scene:https://t.co/2sMHjSei3c pic.twitter.com/s668MWMPdi

— Karla (@WritingRendon) March 15, 2021

Three people died at the scene. Five of the six others who were injured were taken to hospitals, authorities said.

Nisleit offered “my deepest condolences,” to the families of those who died.

UPDATE: SDPD Chief David Nisleit said officers "detained the driver" for reportedly "driving while impaired" in the downtown tunnel crash that left 3 pedestrians killed and several more hurt. https://t.co/ZvckNhfRac pic.twitter.com/blskjICHp5

— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) March 15, 2021

The sidewalk had tents on it. Nisleit said homeless people may have moved under the bridge to get out of the rain just before the car plowed through there.

“I don’t know if people were sleeping or people were sitting there,” he said, adding that authorities scrambling to get people medical help would then turn to finding the answers to those questions.

The driver got out of his car and tried to help people before identifying himself to police, Nisleit said.

“He was cooperative, (and) did not try to run away,” the chief said, correcting earlier reports from police that he had tried to flee.

Multiple ambulances, five fire engines, a helicopter and more than 60 first-responders rushed to the scene near San Diego City College where on a typical weekday morning it is a busy area with students walking by.

“Our crews found, obviously, a tragic incident under the bridge,” San Diego Fire Department Chief Colin Stowell said.