Semi Truck Rolls On Ortega Highway In Major Injury Crash

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — An overturned big rig snarled traffic on the Ortega Highway near the county line for hours on Thursday evening, according to California Highway Patrol.

Shortly before 3 p.m., a 2013 Freightliner tractor trailer combination, driven by a 51 year-old male, from Chino, CA, was traveling eastbound on SR-74 (Ortega Hwy) just west of the Candy Store, at approximately 50 miles per hour, according to CHP Officer Mike Lassig.

“The driver failed to safely negotiate a curve in the road, causing the tractor-trailer to overturn,” he said. The semi landed on the north guardrail blocking mostly the westbound traffic lane.

The driver suffered major injuries and was driver was airlifted by Mercy Air and was taken to Inland Valley Regional Medical Center. His condition was not known as of 8 p.m.

The roadway reopened to traffic as of 8:15 p.m., according to CHP.

The CHP, Temecula Area is conducting this traffic collision investigation.