Temecula Man Killed While Standing On I-215 Freeway; Info Sought

PERRIS, CA — A 24-year-old Temecula man who was struck and killed by a vehicle over the weekend while standing in traffic lanes on Interstate 215 was identified by the coroner, and the California Highway Patrol is hoping the public can help provide more details.

Justin Torres was fatally struck at 12:40 a.m. Saturday on northbound I-215, just north of state Route 74, in Perris, according to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau.

The driver who hit him — a 24-year-old Perris man — was behind the wheel of a 2020 Dodge Challenger and was traveling at approximately 68 mph, according to the CHP.

For reasons still under investigation by the CHP, Torres was standing in the freeway's #2 traffic lane. According to the CHP, the Dodge driver did not see the Temecula man in time and could not avoid hitting him.

Torres was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Dodge driver was not injured nor was he arrested, the CHP reported. He "remained at the collision scene and was cooperative with CHP investigators," according to the state agency.

The CHP is looking for more information about the incident. Anyone who witnessed Saturday's middle-of-the-night crash or anyone with information about it was asked to contact the CHP's Temecula Area office at 951-506-2000.