RivCo Man ID'd In Crash Down Rainbow Canyon Embankment Near Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — A 23-year-old driver died early Monday after his Honda Civic careened down an embankment near Temecula, police said.

He was identified as Mathew Salazar of Hemet, according to the coroner's office.

At 12:08 a.m., Salazar was driving a 2014 Honda Civic northbound on Rainbow Canyon Road just south of Temecula at an unknown speed when he made "an unsafe turning movement," according to California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Lassig.

The turn sent the car off the road and down a steep embankment. The vehicle crashed into a large rock, which caused major damage, Lassig said.

After the crash, the CHP received a 911 phone call from a caller who said they had gotten a phone call from the driver of the Honda.

"The phone call disconnected, and the 911 caller received an Apple phone notification that the driver of the Honda was involved in a crash," Lassig said.

The caller then notified CHP that the Honda driver may have been involved in a crash and gave a location.

CHP and Cal Fire arrived to Rainbow Canyon Road, where they found the crash site, where they found the driver. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, Lassig said.

The CHP of the Temecula area is investigating the incident. No other details were available.

"The CHP would like to remind the motoring public to be mindful of speed during foggy conditions and limit cell phone conversations as they can still be a distraction while driving," Lassig wrote in a release.