Man Killed After Driving Into Big Rig On I-15 In Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — The driver of a sedan died after slamming into the back of a big rig that was stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 15 in Lake Elsinore, authorities said Saturday.

The crash occurred at 9:15 p.m. Friday on the southbound side of the freeway south of Franklin Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

According to investigators, the truck driver had pulled over to inspect a noise coming from the rear of his trailer.

About 15 to 30 seconds later, a 2006 Honda Accord drove into the right shoulder, for unknown reasons, and slammed into the rear of the big rig at about 60 mph. The car was crushed underneath the trailer and the driver became trapped in the driver's seat, according to the CHP.

The Honda's driver, identified as Rafael Marchan, 29, of Wildomar, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, according to the Riverside County coroner's office. He had been wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, the CHP said.

The truck driver, a 45-year-old man from Victorville, was uninjured.

Anyone who witnessed the crash was urged to contact Officer Rigo Garcia at the CHP's Temecula area office at 951-506-2000.

—City News Service