Coroner ID's Victim Of Fatal SR-74 Head-On Collision, CHP Investigates

PERRIS, CA —The Riverside County Sheriff's Department Coroner's Bureau has identified the victim of a Tuesday head-on collision as 49-year-old Ambrocio Cota of Nuevo.

California Highway Patrol is still seeking witnesses to the deadly two-car crash.

Shortly before 6:45 p.m., Cota was driving a 2010 Lexus IS250 eastbound on State Route 74 near Joppe Avenue at an undetermined speed, according to CHP Officer Mike Lassig.

At the same time, a 2024 Chevrolet Express van was being driven by a 23-year-old male from Perris, CA, with a 59-year-old male passenger who was sitting in the right front passenger seat. "The Chevrolet was being driven westbound on State Route 74 at an undetermined speed," Lassig said.

The Lexus veered to the left, crossed over the raised concrete divider, and into the westbound lanes of State Route 74, directly into the path of the Chevrolet van, for as of yet unknown reasons.

The front of the Lexus sedan crashed into the front of the Chevrolet van, then the Lexus careened in a northeasterly direction until it collided with a chain link fence just north of State Route 74.

Both vehicles sustained significant front-end damage, according to the CHP report.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene, and paramedics pronounced Cota deceased at the scene. Next of kin was notified, according to the Coroner's Bureau.

A SIG alert was issued. State Route 74 westbound traffic lanes were closed for approximately two and a half hours as traffic was diverted away from the crash scene.

The CHP, Temecula Area, is conducting this traffic collision investigation. Witnesses are urged to contact CHP, Temecula Area at (951) 466-4300.