Murder, DUI Charges Filed In Deadly Temecula I-15 Crash

MURRIETA, CA - A man accused of driving under the influence of drugs and causing a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 in Temecula, killing a woman and seriously injuring another motorist, was charged Thursday with second- degree murder and DUI.

Javier Caldera, 25 of Auburn, Washington, could face life in prison if convicted of the charges stemming from the death of Janet Genao, 44, of Murrieta, who died at the scene of the Tuesday collision on the southbound I- 15, south of Rancho California Road, according to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

Genao was driving a 2015 Nissan Altima southbound on I-15, just south of Rancho California Road, at around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday when she was hit by Caldera, who was in a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado truck, according to CHP reports. Video footage of the incident showed the truck driver speeding through the morning traffic on the freeway before then slamming — full-speed — into Genao's sedan. The car was destroyed and the woman died at the scene.

After hitting the woman's Altima, the ensuing chain-reaction crash involved four more vehicles, according to the CHP.

One of those vehicles was a Chevrolet S-10 pickup, which was sent flying off the road and into the side of the Temecula City Hall parking structure just west of the freeway. That vehicle was also mangled. The driver suffered serious injuries, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Lassig.

Drivers of two of the other vehicles had minor injuries, and another driver was unhurt, he said. All of the injured parties were taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar.

Caldera has previous convictions in Washington state, including driving under the influence and felony attempt to elude, according to prosecutors.

Caldera, who was being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Center in Banning, made his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta but did not enter a plea.

A judge granted the defense's request to reschedule Caldera's arraignment for June 18 and also revoked his bail.

"Our prosecutor argued for no bail, telling the judge the defendant is a danger to the community and a flight risk," the DA's Office said on Facebook. "The judge agreed."

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— City News Service contributed to this report