3 from Los Angeles area killed in San Diego County rollover crash

FALLBROOK, SAN DIEGO COUNTY (KABC) -- Three people from the Los Angeles area on their way to a funeral in Mexico were killed when their SUV crashed in northern San Diego County.

Authorities said the driver, identified as 25-year-old Jerson Ariel Duron Valeriano of Monrovia, and five passengers were traveling southbound on the I-15 near Gopher Canyon Road when their 2001 Ford Expedition had a tire blowout.

A sheriff's deputy who was driving directly behind the SUV saw one of its rear tires suddenly shred to pieces at around 12:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

That's when the vehicle lost control, struck a metal divider, overturned and landed on the northbound side of the freeway.

Valeriano, his 22-year-old wife Edith Duron, and 21-year-old Ivette Garcia from Santa Monica were killed in the crash.

The couple's 2-year-old daughter, who was also in the vehicle, was not injured. Two other family members, described as a 21-year-old male and a 43-year-old female, received minor to moderate injuries.

Witness Brandon Butler told ABC San Diego affiliate KGTV that when he saw what happened, he and other witnesses rushed to the scene and immediately got the survivors out. He said the little girl was restrained in her car seat.

According to KGTV, two of the three deceased victims were not wearing seatbelts.

Authorities believe alcohol or drugs were not involved in the crash, which remains under investigation.