Fiery Fatal Crash On I-215 Claims Life Of Temecula Man: CHP

MURRIETA, CA — A 22-year-old Temecula man died at the scene of a crash on the southbound I-215 freeway. Southbound traffic into Murrieta was halted early Thursday due to a fiery, fatal multi-car crash.

Shortly before 3:30 a.m., a 911 caller reported a white sedan heading "fast" lost control just north of the Clinton Keith offramp and exploded into flame, California Highway Patrol officer Mike Lassig said.

Murrieta Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene to render aid as lanes were closed after the collision, and all southbound traffic was diverted at Clinton Keith Road during the hard closure.

The victim, identified only as a Temecula man, was driving his 2007 Chevrolet Malibu in the fast lane when he apparently lost control and struck the center divider, rendering the car inoperable, Lassig told Patch. It stalled in the No. 1 southbound lane. "The sedan's sole passenger decided to get out and stand in the center divider, while the driver remained behind the wheel, calling for assistance," he said.

Shortly after, a Ford F-350 transit van traveling southbound at an undetermined speed approached the stalled Malibu. Still, the driver, identified only as a 61-year-old Moreno Valley man, failed to stop in time and slammed into the rear of the Malibu, according to Lassig.

He said the van spun into the middle of the freeway, while the Malibu instantly burst into flames.

Murrieta Fire & Rescue personnel arrived at the location within a few minutes and extinguished the blaze. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

The van operator suffered minor injuries and was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment. He was the sole occupant of the van.

The Malibu passenger, whose identity was not disclosed, was not hurt.

All southbound lanes were shut down for three hours while the wreckage was cleared and a preliminary investigation was conducted. As of 6:30 a.m., CHP closed the incident.

Anyone with information about the collision was asked to contact the CHP's Temecula office at 951-466-4300.