A 22-year-old Temecula man died early Thursday after a fiery two-vehicle crash on the south lanes of Clinton Keith Road along the 215 Freeway in Murrieta.
The incident happened around 3:30 a.m., when officers responded to reports that a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu had struck the center divider. Investigators said the driver appeared to have lost control of the vehicle.
According to officials, a passenger in the Malibu exited the car to call for help, while the driver remained inside.
Moments later, a second collision occurred when a 61-year-old man driving a Ford F-350 transit van failed to stop in time and slammed into the rear of the disabled Malibu. The impact caused the van to spin into the middle of the roadway and ignited a fire in the Malibu.
Murrieta firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze, but the Malibu’s driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was unharmed.
The driver of the Ford van was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.
