Details Released In Deadly Winchester Highway 79 Crash

WINCHESTER, CA — A Menifee driver has been killed and another person was injured Tuesday in a two-vehicle crash on southbound Highway 79 in Winchester.

The fatal incident was reported at approximately 1:20 p.m. A preliminary report from the California Highway Patrol San Gorgonio Pass Area office showed that a BMW driven by the 23-year-old Menifee man was heading north on Highway 79, south of Patterson Avenue, "at a high rate of speed." As the driver attempted to navigate a left curve in the road, he lost control of the vehicle.

A Toyota pickup driven by a 44-year-old San Bernardino man was heading south on the highway at about 50 to 60 mph as the BMW crossed his path, perpendicular to traffic. The Toyota's front end crashed into the BMW's right side, killing the car's driver. The Toyota driver was sent to a local hospital with minor injuries, according to the CHP report.

The BMW driver's identity was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

No other injuries were reported.

Southbound Highway 79 was closed for several hours due to the crash investigation by the CHP.

Following the fatal crash, the CHP San Gorgonio Pass Area office reminded motorists that "driving at an unsafe speed is the leading cause of crashes in our area. Drive to arrive."

Anyone with additional information about the crash is asked to contact CHP Public Information Officer Jason Montez at 951-769-2000 ext. 221.