Woman Killed On I-215 In Murrieta ID'd As Lake Elsinore Resident

MURRIETA, CA — A 44-year-old Lake Elsinore woman killed Sunday on Interstate 215 in Murrieta by an alleged drunken driver has been identified by the coroner.

Gladys Cruz Maeda was fatally hit at 2:30 a.m. Sunday on southbound I-215, just north of Murrieta Hot Springs Road, according to information from the California Highway Patrol and the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau.

Maeda was at the wheel of her 2014 Nissan Murano when she struck a bright-colored, water-filled traffic attenuator, a safety device used in road construction and work zones to absorb the impact of a vehicle collision.

Maeda was inspecting damage to her SUV when a motorist traveling at an unconfirmed speed in his 2004 Honda Accord plowed into her in the construction zone and then fled the scene, according to the CHP.

Maeda was pronounced dead at the scene by Murrieta Fire & Rescue.

Her passenger, identified only as a man, was not injured.

A CHP investigation led to the identification of the alleged vehicle involved in the hit-and-run, which culminated in an arrest warrant being obtained and served on the suspect at his residence Sunday afternoon.

The man, whose identity was being withheld Monday, was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of DUI, gross vehicular manslaughter, and hit-and-run.

A GoFundMe page was posted in Maeda's name. Written in Spanish, the page translates as, "My name is Walter Cruz, I am the brother of Gladis Cruz. Unfortunately, my sister passed away unexpectedly. Gladis leaves behind 4 daughters who are minors and as a family we are not financially prepared. We are raising funds for her funeral. We thank you in advance for your help. God bless you. Cruz Maeda family."

As of Monday afternoon, the page had raised $720.