Ryder Shoup Death – The adolescent who lost his life in a collision on Interstate 5 in Chula Vista on Wednesday morning has been identified. FOX 5/KUSI had previously reported on the incident that occurred at approximately 3:20 a.m. on Wednesday on the southbound I-5 near Palomar Street. The California Highway Patrol stated that a 67-year-old woman from San Diego was suspected of driving a Honda Civic in the wrong direction on the freeway at speeds ranging from 80 to 90 miles per hour.
Law enforcement officials mentioned that the Honda collided with a Dodge Challenger driven by a 16-year-old boy from Imperial Beach. The Dodge subsequently caught fire. Both drivers succumbed to their injuries, as per the authorities. In a communication shared with FOX 5/KUSI by the Sweetwater Union High School District, the driver of the Dodge was identified as Ryder Shoup, a sophomore student at Mar Vista High School.
The communication, initially distributed to families by the high school principal, stated, “Our entire school community has been deeply impacted by this tragedy. Ryder was a compassionate 10th grade student with a contagious smile. He was actively engaged in our football program and also worked as a lifeguard in the community.”
The communication also mentioned that school counselors and psychologists are accessible to offer assistance to students.
A toxicology report is currently pending from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine if alcohol and/or drugs played a role in the collision.