A tragic afternoon on a busy interstate highway claimed two lives in a devastating collision. On Saturday, January 17, 2026, shortly before 2:48 p.m., emergency responders were called to the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 in Oceanside, California, at a specific rest area near the Aliso Creek vicinity . This location is in the far northern reaches of San Diego County, just outside of the Camp Pendleton area .
The collision involved a sedan that had become inoperative and was stopped on the northbound side of the freeway near the rest area . While the sedan was disabled, it was struck from behind by an approaching tow truck . A passerby witnessed the impact and immediately called 911, prompting a rapid response from California Highway Patrol officers and local fire department personnel .
The victims of the crash were identified as the two occupants of the sedan. The driver was Elliot Freier, a 64-year-old resident of Los Angeles . His passenger was Cora Perez, also 64 years old . Both victims suffered multiple blunt force injuries from the force of the impact .
Despite life-saving efforts conducted by the emergency crews who arrived on the scene, Elliot Freier and Cora Perez were both pronounced deceased by responding paramedics at the location of the crash . The California Highway Patrol confirmed that the next of kin for both individuals were notified .
As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made in connection with the fatal crash, and the precise cause of the collision has not yet been publicly determined . Investigators from the California Highway Patrol are continuing their work to examine all the circumstances that led to the tow truck striking the disabled sedan .
The accident caused significant traffic delays on northbound Interstate 5 as emergency crews worked to manage the scene and conduct their initial investigation . This fatal incident contributes to the ongoing traffic safety concerns in San Diego County, which historically records thousands of fatal and injury crashes each year .