A father and his 9-year-old daughter were severely injured in a head-on crash near Ramona Thursday night, California Highway Patrol officials confirmed.
The crash happened around 8:15 p.m. on Ramona Oaks Road and San Vicente Road.
CHP officials said a blue Hyundai carrying Paul Stevens and his 9-year-old daughter were traveling east when the driver of a white pickup truck heading west crossed over the double yellow lines and struck the Hyundai head-on.
The dad and daughter were on their way home from soccer practice, authorities said.
Both the girl and her father were severely injured in the crash, officials said. The girl was transported by helicopter to Rady Children’s Hospital. The dad was also taken to a trauma center by air.
The male driver of the truck, 21-year-old John Mantz, was transported to a hospital by ambulance with moderate injuries, CHP officials said. His injuries are not as bad as the other victims’ injuries.
No one has life threatening injuries, according to the CHP.
CHP said the driver of the truck acted intoxicated at the scene and smelled of alcohol. He was arrested for felony DUI and is being held on $100,000 bail.
"Completely avoidable, completely preventable, this didn't have to happen tonight, I mean it was just a poor decision an individual made that caused this event," CHP official Jeffrey Christy told NBC 7.
The names of the father and daughter injured in the crash have not yet been released. Officials said they are being treated for various broken bones and lacerations.
CHP provided traffic control at the scene following the crash. The road was reopened by 10 p.m.
Check back for updates.
