A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder after authorities say he intentionally rammed a motorcycle, killing its driver, on Interstate 805 in Chula Vista Monday night.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Ulysses Jimenez was behind the wheel of a red Tesla traveling at high speed in the carpool lane just north of Telegraph Canyon Road around 8 p.m. when he deliberately crashed into the back of a grey motorcycle.
The motorcyclist, identified as 53-year-old Jorge Uribe, died at the scene.
The Tesla then struck a 2012 black Ram pickup truck carrying six people, all of whom sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital, CHP officials said.
After the crash, Jimenez fled the scene on foot. Witnesses reported seeing him walking barefoot along the road, holding cash and attempting to hitch a ride.
“He was asking for a ride, but no one was falling for it,” said Jenny Kiti, who recorded video of Jimenez. “Then he started getting mad, flipping people off.”
CHP officers later located Jimenez and arrested him at gunpoint. He was booked into jail on charges including first-degree murder, felony hit-and-run causing injury, and other felonies. Investigators are still determining whether drugs played a role in the incident.
“The California Highway Patrol is committed to conducting a complete and thorough investigation into this incident. We owe it to the victims and their families to ensure that all facts are uncovered and justice is served,” said CHP Captain M. Vargas.
The crash resulted in significant traffic delays and a Sig-Alert was issued Tuesday morning. The investigation remains ongoing.
