Murrieta Woman Dies in Ortega Highway Crash

A Murrieta woman died Monday after hitting a tree along the Ortega Highway, California Highway Patrol and coroner's officials report.

According to the Orange County Coroner's Office, Kristina Halliday died upon impact with the tree just before 8 a.m.  She was 68.

The crash east of the San Diego (5) Freeway near Antonio Parkway was reported at 7:57 a.m., according to a California Highway Patrol dispatcher.

No other vehicles or people were involved, fire officials told the OC Register. 

Authorities temporarily closed westbound lanes to accommodate an investigation.