Teen From El Cajon Dies in Murrieta Crash

Murrieta, CA — An El Cajon teen died following a head-on crash early Sunday in Southwestern Riverside County, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The 17-year-old — whose identity was not immediately provided — was driving along Murrieta Hot Springs Road in Murrieta around 1:20 a.m. with no headlights nor seatbelt on when he let his 1990 Honda Accord drift into the wrong lane of traffic, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Lassig.

While headed west in the eastbound lane of the roadway, near the intersection of Inverness Way, the boy moved into the path of an approaching 2010 Ford F-150 pickup truck, "causing the front of [the Accord] to collide into the front of [the F-150]," Lassig said.

"This collision caused major damage to both vehicles," he said in a news release.

Both the boy and the driver of the truck, identified as a 45-year-old Murrieta man, were taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, Lassig said.

"[The driver of the Accord] was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered major injuries," he said. "[The driver of the truck] was wearing his seatbelt and sustained minor injuries."

The boy later died from his injuries at the hospital, according to Lassig.

A toxicology report is pending and the investigation into the crash continues, he said.

—Patch Editor Renee Schiavone contributed to this report.

(Patch file photo)