Motorist Dies After Fistfight With Another Driver And Crash

SAN DIEGO, CA — A 33-year-old man died after fighting with another man Saturday over a traffic dispute downtown.

After a traffic dispute between the two motorists, they got out of their vehicles and engaged in a physical fight, said San Diego police Lt. Matt Dobbs. The fight was broken up and the two men drove away.

As he was driving away, the victim began to lose consciousness and collided with a light pole, a tree and a power box in the 900 block of First Avenue, where he crashed about 3 p.m. Saturday, Dobbs said.

The man had suffered trauma to his upper body, Dobbs said without elaborating on the nature of injuries or whether they were suffered in the fight or the crash.

When officers and paramedics arrived, they found his female companion - - it was unclear if she had been a passenger in his vehicle -- rendering aid to him in the street, Dobbs said. The officers took over first aid and had the man transported to a hospital, where he died. His name was withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The female companion was transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries along with a 14-year-old girl who was also transported after suffering a foot injury from flying debris from the crash, he said.

The suspect was described as a stocky Asian or Hispanic man in his 30s or 40s He was last seen driving a red compact sedan.

Anyone with information on this fight and crash was asked to call SDPD's homicide unit at 619-531-2293. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

—City News Service