UPDATE: 1/16/23 12 pm CHP press report
On Monday, January 16, 2023, at approximately 3:58 A.M., Party # 1, Alexia Rodriguez, age 21, was driving a 2008 Dodge Charger, southbound on the I-215 transition to southbound I-15 (City of Murrieta) during moderate rain. Party # 1 lost control of her vehicle, causing it to travel off of the west roadway edge of the transition road. The Dodge Charger collided into a metal pole. The Dodge Charger became engulfed in flames. Two unidentified passengers, one male and one female, who were not wearing seat belts, and were ejected from the Dodge Charger.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP), City of Murrieta Fire Department, and AMR all responded to the collision scene. The City of Murrieta Fire Department pronounced the unidentified ejected passengers deceased at the scene. A third passenger, a female, was located inside of the Dodge Charger and was also pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver suffered serious burns but was able to self-extricate herself from the burning Dodge Charger.
Party # 1 was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center by AMR. CHP Officers responded to Inland Valley Medical Center and determined that Party # 1 had been driving under the influence of alcohol and placed her under arrest. Due to the severity of Party # 1’s burns, she was subsequently airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Ultimately, Party #1 was charged with Felony Gross Vehicular Manslaughter and Felony Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.
The CHP, Temecula Area is conducting this traffic collision instigation. The CHP would like to encourage any witnesses who may observed this collision, or may have any information regarding it, to contact CHP, Temecula Area at (951) 506-2000. The CHP would like to remind everyone to always designate a sober driver, always wear your seatbelt, and drive at a safe speed when traveling in inclement weather.
Riverside County Coroner’s Case Numbers: 2023-00484, 2023-00486, and 2023-00487.
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CHP is reporting a fatal accident in Murrieta at the I-15 S just past the I-215 S merge this morning. The car was reported at 4 am to have left the roadway, spun out, hit a metal pole holding a camera and burst into flames while the driver was still inside on the right-hand shoulder.
Several accidents, including multi-vehicle accidents, have been reported this morning between 4 am and 5am on I-15 between Temecula and Bonsall.
North County Fire is asking everyone to slow down and give themselves plenty of time to reach their destination. The heavy rain is expected to continue, according to weather reports.
