Trucker Sought In Fatal Temecula Motorcycle Crash On 15 Freeway

TEMECULA, CA — A 76-year-old man on a Harley-Davidson was run over by a tractor-trailer Thursday evening amid crawling rush-hour traffic on Interstate 15 in Temecula, and the truck driver was likely unaware of what happened, according to a California Highway Patrol preliminary report released Friday.

The motorcyclist, whose identity was pending release from the coroner's bureau, was run over at about 6:10 p.m. in northbound lanes at Winchester Road.

Just prior, the rider was splitting lanes at 10-15 mph when for unknown reasons he "laid his motorcycle down" and was ejected from the bike, according to the CHP's preliminary report.

"He went into the #3 lane and was run over by the rear trailer wheels of the big rig," the report stated.

The rider was pronounced dead at the crash scene. It is unknown whether alcohol and/or drugs were a crash factor.

The trucker did not stop, but the CHP reported, "There is no indication that the driver of the big rig had any knowledge that they were involved in this crash. There is no description of the tractor. The trailer was described as a white box trailer."

Traffic was jammed for several hours and a SigAlert was issued during the crash investigation.

Any information regarding the big rig can be directed to the CHP Temecula Area office at 951-506-2000.