Suspected drunk driver sets off five-car collision

CARLSBAD — A suspected drunk driver set off a five-vehicle collision after running a red light at El Camino Real and Tamarack Avenue Thursday afternoon, Carlsbad police reported.

Juan Martinez Galvan, 25, was the only one to suffer serious injury in the crash he caused. Carlsbad firefighters had to extricate the trapped Galvan from his mashed vehicle and airlifted him to Scripps La Jolla Hospital with a possible broken leg.

The other four drivers suffered only minor injuries, according to a Carlsbad Police Department release.

Galvan was said to be driving southbound on El Camino Real at a high rate of speed shortly before the accident occurred. Galvan reportedly ran a red light at Tamarack Avenue and broadsided a vehicle that had entered the intersection on a green light. After striking the first vehicle, Galvan’s car then struck three more vehicles in the northbound lanes of El Camino Real.

Motor Officer Chris Karches came upon the scene shortly after. The release said Corporal Bill Michalek would be conducting the collision investigation for the Carlsbad Police Department.