Injury Crash On Northbound I-15 Near Temecula Slows Traffic

TEMECULA, CA — A motorist was seriously injured Thursday in a solo-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 south of Temecula that required firefighters to extricate the person from the wreckage.

The crash happened about 12:40 p.m. on northbound I-15, near the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint at Rainbow Canyon Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Honda Accord was "completely smashed" after plowing into a guardrail at an undetermined speed, the CHP reported.

Two Riverside County Fire Department engine crews reached the location within a few minutes and found the victim, whose identity was not released, jammed inside the sedan, suffering from major injuries.

Firefighters extricated the driver at 1:05 p.m., who was taken by ambulance to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment.

One lane on I-15 was closed due to the crash, which the CHP was investigating.

As of 2:40 p.m., traffic remained slow in the area.