Pine Valley

A woman was killed Wednesday when her car went off Interstate 8 just west of the Pine Valley bridge, plunged 240 feet into a canyon and burst into flames, authorities reported.

Lois Fern Campbell, 55, of the 2900 block of Epaulette Street in San Diego, was traveling east on the freeway when she lost control of her auto. She died at the scene of the noon accident, Deputy Coroner Everett Mauger said.

About the time Campbell’s car crashed, another vehicle, also headed east on Interstate 8, was struck from behind by another auto. The California Highway Patrol is investigating whether the two accidents are connected.

The CHP is looking at whether a car driven by Richard Houck, 56, of Descanso, may have sideswiped Campbell’s auto moments before it hit a trailer being towed by a car driven by Pauline Blake of Oklahoma.

Houck told officers at the scene that he is a diabetic and blacked out while driving. He said he did not remember either accident, a CHP spokesman said.

Houck and Blake were taken by Life Flight to UC San Diego Medical Center after both complained of chest pains.

Blake was treated for minor injuries and released, a hospital spokeswoman said. Houck was hospitalized and was listed in fair condition, she said.