Murrieta Man Run Over, Killed On La Cresta Roadway: CHP

TEMECULA VALLEY, CA — The California Highway Patrol is investigating why a man may have been lying in a roadway before he was fatally struck by a vehicle over the weekend near Murrieta.

The incident happened around 5:30 a.m. Sunday along Tenaja Road, just west of Calle Pino, in the unincorporated Riverside County community of La Cresta. A Murrieta man was driving a 2004 Toyota Tundra when he did not see the person on the ground, and ran over him, according to CHP Officer Mike Lassig.

"It was dark and there was no lighting and the pedestrian that appears to have been lying in the roadway was wearing dark clothing," Lassig told Patch. "The motorist stopped at the scene and was cooperative with law enforcement and there was no indication that he was impaired in any way."

Officials are investigating whether the man in the road may have been under the influence, Lassig said.

The person who died has not been publicly identified, but he was a Murrieta resident, according to CHP and coroner's reports.

Lassig asked that if anyone has information related to the case to call the Temecula Area CHP Office at 951-506-2000.