Details Released In Whitewood Road Crash That Killed Murrieta Man

MURRIETA, CA — A man walking in traffic lanes on Whitewood Road was struck by three vehicles Monday night and died at a local hospital, according to an update from the Murrieta Police Department.

The county coroner's office identified the man as 44-year-old Leny Palma Gaitan of Murrieta. He was pronounced dead at Wildomar's Inland Valley Hospital approximately 30 minutes following the 7:29 p.m. crash on the southbound side of the Whitewood, about 423 feet north of Somers Road, according to the coroner.

A preliminary investigation by Murrieta police found Gaitan was walking in traffic lanes, outside of a pedestrian crosswalk, at the time he was hit by the southbound vehicles.

"It is unknown at this time why the pedestrian was walking in the roadway," police said.

No evidence of excessive speed or driver impairment was found, and investigators are working to determine if Gaitan was impaired at the time of the incident, according to police.

Anyone with information related to the incident and who has not been contacted by a Murrieta police officer or investigator is asked to contact Murrieta Police Traffic Investigator Larsen at 951-200-9368 or plarsen@murrietaca.gov or Traffic Bureau Sergeant Steve Whiddon at 951-461-6323 or swhiddon@murrietaca.gov.

Related: Whitewood Road's Death Toll Continues Mounting In Murrieta