A Santee man was killed and a mother and her three children were critically injured in a horrific crash on State Route 52 Sunday.
Two victims were pulled from the wreckage by fire crews on the eastbound SR-52 just east of Santo Road around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
Matthew T Leonardo, 30, of Santee was killed when his grey Ford sedan collided with a mini-van. California Highway Patrol investigators say Leonardo was driving the wrong way on the highway moments before the crash.
The woman driving the minivan and her children ages 17, 12 and 10 were treated by firefighters and quickly transported to area hospitals.
One of the vehicles burst into flames at the scene, and citizens used fire extinguishers to try to put out the blaze, but the car continued burning, according to the CHP.
Victims were transported to Sharp Memorial, UCSD Trauma Center and Rady's Children, according to San Diego Fire Department.
Investigators said a toxicology report will determine if Leonardo was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
The eastbound freeway was shut-down for hours.