Sailors among 3 motorcyclists killed in multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton, U.S. Navy spokesperson says

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KABC) — Two of the three motorcyclists killed in a fiery pileup early Thursday on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton were sailors, a U.S. Navy spokesperson confirmed.

The crash was reported shortly after 3 a.m. near the Las Pulgas Road on-ramp, about 10 miles north of Oceanside, according to a California Highway Patrol incident log.

U.S. Navy spokesman Brian O'Rourke told KGTV that two of the three men who died were sailors and were stationed in the San Diego area, but their identities have not been released.

Five other people were also injured in the accident.

Four motorcycles and two cars were involved in the collision, which began when a Jeep traveling south left the highway, struck a guardrail and became disabled, the CHP said.

A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van hit the Jeep and was also disabled. Four motorcyclists riding in tandem collided with the Jeep and pickup truck, and the motorcycles caught fire, the Highway Patrol said.

The CHP closed the south side of the highway as investigation and cleanup operations began. The closure caused traffic congestion that extended beyond San Onofre.

At least two southbound lanes reopened around 9:30 a.m., and the rest were opened shortly afterward, according to the CHP.