5 Dead After Motorcycle Crash Near Ocotillo

Authorities say five people were killed in a crash involving seven motorcycles and 2 vehicles on a rural highway east of San Diego.

CHP officers have said that five deaths occurred in the collision Saturday afternoon on Route 98 near Ocotillo in Imperial County, just miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Authorities say a car tried to pass about a dozen motorcyclists on the two-lane highway when an oncoming car swerved out of the way, lost control and ran into the motorcyclists.

The driver of the on coming car was identified as 36 year old Carlos Bobadilla of Mexicali. His wife, who was a passenger with him in the car, died. Bobadilla was arrested for DUI, but not charged for any deaths. Investigators are saying he was forced to swerve out of the way and into the motorcycles.

Police say Bobadilla went onto the shoulder to avoid the car, but then overcorrected. He shot across the road and into the motorcycles.

Two men and two women on motorcycles were killed.

The car that tried to pass the motorcycles did not stop and authorities were looking for it. They describe it as a Gold Honda Accord last seen heading towards Calexico.

The Highway Patrol’s Multiple Accident Investigation team from San Diego was called in because of the accident’s size.

Ocotillo is about 80 miles east of San Diego.