Dramatic crash briefly closes I-15 in Temecula

TEMECULA - A 20-year-old man lost control of his SUV, plunged off the side of Interstate 15 in Temecula and landed about 30 feet below in a creek bed, causing a major backup in both directions, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said today.

The incident occurred about 7:10 p.m. Friday, just south of Temecula Parkway on the southbound side of the freeway, the spokesman said.

Arriving firefighters cut the man out of the wreckage, according to Melody Hendrickson of the county fire department. The driver suffered major injuries, she said.

The freeway was closed in both directions for about 15 minutes while a helicopter landed on the road to airlift the victim. Friday evening traffic was backed up into San Diego County in the northbound lanes, and into Murrieta on the southbound side for several hours while the crash was investigated, the CHP spokesman said.

April 20 early version story

Truck overturns into riverbed off southbound I-15 sending one person by Mercy Air to hospital

TEMECULA - A solo traffic collision about 7:08 pm tonight on the southbound I-15 just south of Temecula Pkwy left southbound lanes closed on the freeway and caused one injured person to be transported by Mercy Air to an area hospital. According to the California Highway Patrol, reporting parties indicated that about 30 vehicles were pulled over on both sides of the freeway. Apparently a Ford Explorer went over the edge into the riverbed and landed on its roof. A person was trapped inside the vehicle in the riverbed, was rescued and then transported by Mercy Air. All lanes were open by 8:43 pm.