Driver Lost Control Passing Traffic In Deadly Banning Crash: CHP

BANNING, CA — One person has died in a crash in Banning on Thursday, the California Highway Patrol and fire officials report. The deadly wreck happened around 7 a.m. on the eastbound side of the freeway, near Hargrave Street.

Preliminary CHP and fire reports indicate the Nissan Sentra ran off the roadway and crashed near the freeway ramp as a "significant amount of rain was falling in the area."

"The Rialto man was traveling eastbound in the #1 lane at approximately 70 MPH," the CHP said in a news release. "Other traffic in the area was traveling at 55 MPH or less due to the rain and reduced visibility. As the man moved from the #1 lane to the #2 lane to pass slower moving traffic, he lost control of the Nissan. The vehicle spun out of control and went over the south embankment where it collided with a tree."

Fire officials responded to the scene and reported that there was only one person in the vehicle, who died at the scene. The coroner was called to the location around 7:30 a.m.

The CHP said the man was wearing a seatbelt.

On Wednesday, another major crash was reported in the same area, when a car rolled off the freeway, trapping a driver.