Teen Dead In Fiery Easter Crash In Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A 19-year-old Lake Elsinore man died on Easter after crashing into a power pole in town, the sheriff's department reports. The single-vehicle collision has since prompted a partial road closure in town until line repairs can be made by the utility company.

The teen has not yet been publicly identified.

The crash happened around 7:25 p.m. Sunday as a man in a Honda sedan slammed into a pole on Railroad Canyon Road near Church Road, according to police and fire officials.

"The first arriving engine company reported one vehicle that struck a pole and was fully involved with fire," the Riverside County Fire Department said. "One victim perished at the scene and a second victim suffered minor injuries."

According to police, the driver was the only person inside the Honda when the wreck occurred, so it wasn't immediately clear who the other injured person was.

"The Traffic Reconstruction Team of the Lake Elsinore Police Department is conducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the collision," said sheriff's Sgt. James Woodland. "Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this collision."

Railroad Canyon was completely shut down in the area following the crash for approximately six hours. The westbound side of the roadway was expected to remain closed until around Monday afternoon, when power line repairs can be made.

— Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone