Two women in a 2000 Dodge Stratus died Saturday morning when the vehicle caught fire after veering off Friars Road and striking a large boulder, San Diego police said.

A third occupant, a male, was able to get out of the vehicle and was transported to UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest. He suffered minor cuts and burns, police said.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the 7:30 a.m. crash near Pacific Highway, police said. The westbound car struck a curb, went up an embankment and struck a large boulder before catching fire.

Capt. Joe Amador of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said the sedan was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived. The two women were trapped inside and died at the scene.


No further details were immediately available, including the names and ages of the victims or the identity of the driver.