4 dead in Highway 78 head-on

Update, 5:40 p.m.:

Four people were killed and three others were injured Tuesday in a head-on collision near the intersection of state Routes 78 and 79 in Santa Ysabel.

The crash was reported about 3:15 p.m., according to Capt. Mike Mohler of Cal Fire. Seven people were taken to hospitals following the crash, three by helicopter and the others by ambulance, he said.

At 4:40 p.m., the CHP confirmed that two adults and two juveniles had died in the crash, which involved a van and another vehicle.

Eastbound and westbound state Route 78 was closed two miles west of state Route 79, according to the CHP.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation.

Original report:

California Highway Patrol reports that two adults and two juveniles have died from injuries suffered in that two-vehicle crash on state Route 78, near state Route 79.

The head-on collision prompted the closure of state Route 78 in both directions in the Santa Ysabel area east of Julian.