SAN DIEGO -- A motorist was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving Friday night after a multicar collision that left three people dead and five injured, authorities said.

The crash occurred on the interchange between Interstate 805 and Highway 52, the California Highway Patrol said.

The incident began shortly after 11 p.m. when a Cadillac Escalade traveling at a high rate of speed failed to negotiate the ramp from northbound 805 to westbound 52 and instead raced up an embankment, rolled over and slid backward, the CHP said.

Two men in the Escalade who were not wearing seat belts were ejected and killed instantly, the CHP said. A third was wearing a seat belt but was still fatally injured.


As the Escalade slid backward, it struck another vehicle. In all, four vehicles were involved.

Names of the dead, injured and the 25-year-old driver of the Escalade who is under arrest were not released. The dead were listed as men ages 23, 29 and 35.

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tony.perry@latimes.com