Crime & Safety

I-15 Crash Victims Identified

According to a Riverside County coroner's report, Walnut resident Margarito Hurtado, 71, and Diamond Bar resident Lorenzo Cortez Mata, 95, were both pronounced dead at the scene in Lake Elsinore.

2/21 Update at 6:30 p.m.:

Two people who died Monday in a solo-vehicle rollover crash on northbound I-15, near Lake Street in Lake Elsinore, have been identified.

According to a Riverside County coroner's report, Walnut resident Margarito Hurtado, 71, and Diamond Bar resident Lorenzo Cortez Mata, 95, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Both men were passengers in a mini van that lost control and struck the center divider Monday at around noon.

According to the coroner's report, Hurtado was ejected during the crash.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to a Riverside County Fire Department/Cal Fire report, in addition to the two fatalities, four others in the vehicle received mild to moderate injuries.

Traffic on the 15 was blocked in both directions for part of the afternoon. Three hours after the crash, caused further traffic jams.

As authorities mopped up on the I-15, officials were also busy Monday with a , just west of Lake Elsinore.

The causes of the three separate accidents are under investigation.

2/21 Update at 2:30 p.m.:

Traffic is now moving on the southbound I-15 at Lake Street, although it's still slow going on the northbound side.

Original 2/21 post:

Two people have died in a solo-vehicle rollover crash on northbound I-15, near Lake Street in Lake Elsinore.

According to a Riverside County Fire Department/Cal Fire report, in addition to the two fatalities, four others in the vehicle were injured.

Names of the deceased have not yet been released.

CHP is describing the vehicle as a “pale blue sedan.”

Traffic on the 15 is blocked in both directions, according to the CHP.

The cause of the accident, which was reported at 12:03 p.m., is under investigation.


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