JACUMBA
A driver died after he suffered a medical emergency on the freeway in East County on Friday afternoon, and his car started a brush fire in the center divide, authorities said.
The incident was reported about 12:05 p.m. on westbound Interstate 8 near In-Ko-Pah Road (also known as Old Highway 80) in the Jacumba area, California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt said.
Preliminary investigation indicates the driver, a 54-year-old El Cajon resident, pulled his 2015 Volkswagen Passat off to the right shoulder, but failed to put the car in “park,” CHP Officer Travis Garrow said.
The driver apparently took his foot off the pedal and the car drifted back onto the freeway, rolling across both westbound lanes then across brush before stopping in the center divide, Garrow said. The brush caught fire, as did the Passat.