Crime & Safety

Driver in Fatal Crash Identified

An Encinitas man was behind the wheel when he collided with a flatbed tow truck Tuesday, choking area traffic for hours.

The Orange County Coroner’s office has released the name of the driver whose life ended on the I-5 in San Juan Capistrano Tuesday.

He is Dennis Holden of Encinitas. He was one month shy of his 65th birthday.

Holden was driving his Lexus RX 350 northbound just south of Ortega Highway when he slammed into a flatbed tow truck, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The crash caused the CHP to close almost all lanes of the freeway, creating a traffic jam for miles both on the I-5 and city streets in San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and Dana Point, according to the CHP.


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