A motorist was killed Tuesday in a two-vehicle wreck on Interstate 15 in Murrieta, during which the victim’s pickup truck rolled, and he was ejected onto the opposite side of the freeway.
The crash was reported at 6:18 a.m. on northbound I-15 at Winchester Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The agency said the pickup and a Toyota Camry impacted in the No. 2 lane of the freeway, but the circumstances weren’t immediately clear.
The pickup, which was apparently equipped with oversized tires, overturned into the center divider, and the driver was hurled out of the cab, flung onto the southbound shoulder, according to reports from the scene.
CHP officers and Murrieta Fire & Rescue personnel reached the location within a few minutes, causing a temporary shutdown of both sides of I-15.
The victim, whose identity was not immediately released, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Toyota driver suffered unspecified minor injuries, but it was unclear whether the party required hospitalization.
Officers opened lanes on both sides of the freeway and closed them again at intervals while the wreckage was cleared and a preliminary investigation was conducted.
All lanes were open and available by 10:30 a.m.
The cause of the crash was under investigation.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Temecula CHP office at 951-466-4300.