Autopsies were pending Wednesday on two men killed in a rollover crash on Interstate 15 in Wildomar.
Juan Carlos Poblete, 22, of Wildomar and his 39-year-old passenger, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, were fatally injured at about 12:35 a.m. Monday on southbound I-15, north of Lemon Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officer Mike Lassig said Poblete was at the wheel of a 1999 GMC Savanna van traveling at an unconfirmed speed when he inexplicably allowed the vehicle to veer toward the shoulder.
“The vehicle traveled in a westerly direction, toward the shoulder,” Lassig said. “The van struck a metal guardrail and continued in a southeasterly direction into the center divider. It traveled up a dirt embankment and overturned.”
Both Poblete and his passenger were ejected from the van because neither had on a safety belt, according to Lassig.
Riverside County Fire Department paramedics arrived a short time later and pronounced both victims dead at the scene.
“Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in this traffic collision,” the CHP spokesman said.
The pending autopsy on the driver was expected to confirm whether the agency’s suspicions were valid.
Anyone with information about the accident was asked to contact the CHP’s Temecula station at 951-466-4300.