Coroner IDs Boy, 16, Killed In Temecula Crash, 3 Others Injured

TEMECULA, CA — A 16-year-old boy was killed in an overnight traffic collision that led to a lengthy closure of Margarita Road, north of 79 South/Temecula Parkway, and south of Santiago Road.

Landen Ried, 16, of Temecula, was identified as the person killed in the crash, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Coroner's Bureau. His name was released after notification of next of kin.

Shortly after 8:15 p.m., a single car struck a power pole at Margarita and Pio Pico Road, where one person died. Riverside County Sheriff's Department Coroner's Bureau was called to the scene, as were utility companies.

Arriving firefighters from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department requested ambulances to the scene, as well as the coroner to the crash scene, according to Cal Fire spokesperson Jasmine Wood.

Three additional passengers were removed from the vehicle and taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital in stable condition, according to Sgt. William Pratt of the Southwest Sheriff's Station.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, lost control for unknown reasons, and collided with a telephone pole," he said. "The driver's identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin."

A temporary road closure of Margarita Road from Jedediah Smith Road to Pico Road was required to process the scene and collect evidence, according to Pratt.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details will be released. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Deputy Cail of the Southwest Sheriff’s Station at 951-696-3000 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office at 951-776-1099.

A Temecula father was first on the scene of the crash say that "a black car struck the pole" at high rates of speed, downing the wires, and witnessed other victims being pulled from the car.

Witness James Federico reported "seeing the car speeding south on Margarita, witnessed the crash and was first on the scene. He said that he angled his car and headlights to stop traffic from driving into the wreckage.

"The sound of the impact is still with me," James Federico shared his statement with Patch. "As I was about to rush to the wreckage, (my son) yelled Stop! He pointed up and said 'Watch the wires!'"

The car split the pole in half, and wires were sagging to about eight to 10 feet, according to Federico.

"For as long as I live, I will never unhear the sound of the mother's scream and cry. I pray she and the father can find peace. I pray that God heals them both. Hold your loved ones a little closer tonight, as you never know when it will be the last time," he wrote.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details will be released, according to the sheriff's department.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Deputy Cail of the Southwest Sheriff’s Station at 951-696-3000 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office at 951-776-1099.

Editor's note: This report has ben corrected from an earlier version as more information was released.