Woman, Dog Plummet From SR-79 Bridge In Temecula: CHP

TEMECULA, CA — A woman careened her pickup truck over the edge of a state Route 79 South bridge east of Temecula Tuesday morning, leading to a several-hour closure between Los Caballos and Anza roads.

Caltrans engineers assessed the bridge for structural damage and said workers would return later Tuesday for guardrail repairs. The damaged bridge was built before World War II and is constructed of wood and concrete.

According to CHP Officer Mike Lassig, the section of the roadway was closed for approximately four hours from collision to vehicle recovery.

Shortly before 8:30 a.m., a 31-year-old Utah woman was driving a white Dodge 3500 Ram truck near the bridge at 79 South, just past Anza Road. "She told officers she briefly took her eyes off the road" and smashed through the guard rail into the dry riverbed below. "She felt herself go airborne," he said. The truck landed on its wheels and struck a tree in the riverbed below.

According to CHP dispatch, a good Samaritan who witnessed the crash called 911 and paused to help. He told officers, "wood debris was everywhere, and the vehicle was smoking."

According to the CHP, the citizen assisted the woman in climbing back up the roadway and rescued her lap dog, who was with her in the vehicle.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department responded to the scene to find the woman with minor injuries from the crash, and the dog was uninjured, Cal Fire spokesperson Maggie De La Rosa said.

The woman declined transport for treatment.

Tow truck drivers ultimately worked out a solution for hauling the vehicle out of the riverbed, allowing the roadway to reopen to traffic.

"The woman admitted to being distracted from the road, which is a reminder to stay off your phone while driving," Lassig said. "There is a time and place to reach for your drink or change the radio station. While you are driving, isn't that time."