Man Struck, Killed After Crossing SWR Highway To Save Dog

MENIFEE, CA — A 25-year-old man was struck and killed as he crossed a four-lane highway in Menifee to coax a loose dog out of traffic, authorities said Friday. Abel Soto of Corona was hit about 5:20 p.m. Thursday on state Route 74, a quarter mile east of McKinley Road.

Soto spotted the canine while driving eastbound between Briggs and McKinley roads, where it had been raining most of the afternoon, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

He got out of his car in an attempt to remove the dog from the middle of the highway, and as he crossed westbound lanes, a vehicle headed in that direction struck him, according to the sheriff's department.

Soto was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies interviewed the motorist, a 19-year-old Hemet man whose name was withheld, and determined that he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, authorities said.

He was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

The segment of the 74 where the fatality happened was closed for more than five hours for the accident investigation.

— By City News Service / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone