Young Temecula Man ID'd As Victim In Fatal I-15 Crash

TEMECULA, CA — The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office has released the identity of a young Temecula man killed last month in a crash on Interstate 15.

Brian Ray Gonzales, 19, died at the scene of the 6:35 a.m. May 21 two-vehicle wreck on northbound I-15, south of Deer Springs Road, in unincorporated Escondido.

Gonzales would have turned 20 on July 6.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Gonzales was driving a Chevrolet Silverado while a 24-year-old motorist from Descanso was driving a Ford F-150.

For reasons under investigation, the two pickup trucks collided. The Ford F-150 spun out and came to rest in the center divider, while the Chevrolet veered to the right shoulder, overturned numerous times, and came to rest upright.

Gonzales was pronounced dead minutes after the crash. His 19-year-old female passenger was sent to a local area hospital with major non-life threatening injuries. The Ford driver escaped injuries, according to the CHP.

Alcohol and/or drugs were not suspected crash factors, the agency said.

A GoFundMe page established for the Gonzales family said Brian was a son, a young father and an older brother.

He "always greeted his parents with a warm hug and smile. A rock for his siblings, who adored him for his silliness, his ability to make them smile, his playful manners, and his vulnerability that only siblings can begin to understand."

Gonzales left behind a baby son.

"He was so excited at the opportunity to raise his boy," the page continued. "To spoil, and dote on him. He was an excellent father already at such a young age. He met this new role with determination, patience and care and most of all unwavering love of a protective father.

"Brian was a man of many skills and talents. A track athlete, a musician, a basketball star, a fighter, an incredible swimmer, a jokester, but the most important roles he played as son, brother, father, grandson, friend, cousin, nephew, is what he cared most of all," according to the page.

A GoFundMe image shows a smiling young man, identified as Gonzales, sporting a red letterman jacket with numerous medals around his neck.

As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe post had raised over $14,000.

Note: At the time of the crash, the CHP did not identify Gonzales by name but said he was a Murrieta resident. The San Diego County Medical Examiner has since identified him as a Temecula resident.