Coroner Releases Names Of 2 Dead In Lakeland Village DUI Crash

The Riverside County Coroner’s Office has released the names of the two men who died in Tuesday night’s head-on crash in Lakeland Village.

William Messermore, 40, was behind the wheel of a charcoal Toyota pickup truck when he collided head on into a white Plymouth Neon driven by 25-year-old Mathew Camilli.

Both Lake Elsinore men were pronounced dead at the scene moments after impact.

The crash was reported a 5:51 p.m. at Grand Avenue and Adelfa in Lakeland.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Keene who was at the scene, before the crash witnesses reported seeing a man -- later identified as Messermore -- and his passenger at a nearby thrift store. The men were looking for a microwave oven to purchase, and they were staggering, their speech was slurred, and they had Budweiser beers in their hands, the officer confirmed.

The men then got in the truck, headed southbound on Grand Avenue traveling in the center turn lane at a high rate of speed, Keene said. Camilli was stopped in the Neon in the turn lane facing northbound when the truck smashed into him at 70 to 80 mph, Keene said.

Messermore was not wearing a safety belt; Camilli was restrained, Keene said.

Messermore’s passenger sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center with moderate injuries; he was wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash, Keene said.

No other injuries were reported.

Grand Avenue was shut down for several hours in both directions as a result of the crash.