4 Loma Linda residents, including 2 minors, killed in Escondido crash

ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KABC) -- Four Loma Linda residents, including two minors, were killed in a car crash in San Diego County.

Three others, also Loma Linda residents, were injured in the crash, which happened shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday on eastbound Highway 78 near Nordahl Road in Escondido.

The California Highway Patrol says the 25-year-old driver of a small 2014 Chevy Sonic crashed into a 2003 Toyota Sequoia van.

Two women, and a young boy and a teenage girl in the van were killed. Three more women in that van were hospitalized.

According to authorities, the driver of the Chevy said he was trying to change lanes when he saw another car in his way. He swerved to avoid a crash, and the van did the same.

That's when the two cars crashed into each other and tumbled down the right shoulder embankment. The van overturned and crashed into a tree.

Investigators do not suspect drugs or alcohol were involved. Police arrested the driver of the Sonic on vehicular manslaughter charges, but he was later released after not being charged.

The crash remains under investigation. The identities of those involved in the incident were not immediately released.