Temecula, CA (July 30, 2024) The community of Temecula was saddened by news of a man’s death on July 18th. The 72-year-old man lost his life when his vehicles slammed into a jackknifed van on Highway 371. The accident happened at approximately 9:42 p.m., near Cahuilla Creek Bridge, according to reports.
It all started with a 2019 Ford Transit van was pulling a 2003 Carso Fun Runner travel trailer along Highway 371. Just north of the Cahuilla Creek Bridge, the drive lost control and the van and trailer jackknifed. It stopped in the middle of the roadway, blocking traffic on Highway 371, according to reports. A 72-year-old man from Orange County was traveling in a 2024 Toyota Camry at a speed of 45 miles per hour. The driver didn’t have time to stop or avoid the van and trailer and ended up slamming into the trailer’s left back corner. The Toyota struck it, head-on, officers reported.
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Emergency crews rushed to the scene and found the two people, both in serious condition. Paramedics requested a medical helicopter, which quickly transported the 72-year-old Toyota driver to Desert Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. The man held on for days, reports indicated, before he finally succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Toyota also had a passenger, according to reports. The 66-year-old woman was taken to Wildomar’s Inland Valley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in this fatal accident on Highway 371 in Temecula. Tow trucks were called to the scene to remove the damaged Toyota and crews helped move the van and trailer from the highway. Debris and glass littered the road and crews swept it all up as quickly as they could so traffic could resume on the highway. Officers are still investigating this accident to figure out why the van and trailer jackknifed in the first place.
Our hearts go out to the family of the man killed in this awful collision in Temecula. If you or someone you know has been affected by this accident, our team of legal experts is ready to help. Call today!
