Temecula Man Killed In I-15 Crash

MURRIETA, CA — An 80-year-old Temecula man was killed Wednesday and two people were injured in a crash on Interstate 15 in Murrieta, when the victim apparently lost control while braking for stopped traffic.

The wreck happened just before 2 p.m. on southbound I-15, south of Murrieta Hot Springs Road.

California Highway Patrol officer Mike Lassig said that the victim, whose identity was not immediately released, was in the No. 3 lane of the southbound side of the freeway, traveling about 65 mph in his 1999 Lincoln Town Car, when a 2003 Dodge Ram van abruptly slowed as traffic ahead of him came to a stop.

The Lincoln driver applied his brakes but lost control, spinning out in lanes. Lassig said the driver's side of the Lincoln impacted the rear of the van, causing the Town Car to careen into the center median, while the van was pushed onto the shoulder of the freeway.

Murrieta Fire Department paramedics arrived within a few minutes and pronounced the senior dead at the scene.

The 61-year-old man at the wheel of the van and his 58-year- old female passenger, each identified only as Downey residents, suffered minor injuries and were taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment.

Southbound I-15 was partially shut down for several hours because of the collision, which remains under investigation.

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A motorist was killed Wednesday afternoon in a Southwest Riverside County crash, the California Highway Patrol reports. The deadly wreck involved two vehicles that crashed near the intersection of Interstate 15 and Interstate 215 around 1:55 p.m.

Details are limited at this time, but preliminary reports indicate a van and a smaller car collided. The coroner was called to the scene about 30 minutes later.

Reports also indicate that a small dog was found dead in the van.

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Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone/City News Service contributed to this post