ALPINE, Calif. --
One man was killed and two others injured after their SUV lost control on Monday during an afternoon storm that dumped snow and ice on Interstate 8 in Pine Valley.
The accident happened around 4:15 p.m. on I-8 near the Pine Valley Bridge during what the California Highway Patrol called a "freak snowstorm."
According to the CHP, a Jeep Cherokee with three men inside lost control on the and plunged 250 off an embankment. Witnesses told the CHP that the Jeep was not speeding, and appeared to be driving around 45 mph at the time of the crash.
Firefighters had to use ropes to get access to the crash site and the victims.
One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials did not identify the man but said he is 28 years old, and is from Redondo Beach. The medical examiner was being called to the scene.
One of the men was not wearing a seat belt, according to officials and was ejected from the Jeep. He was airlifted to Sharp Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
The third victim was also taken to Sharp with moderate injuries.
Cal Fire assisted in the rescue and said the snowstorm was to blame for many additional accidents along I-8.
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