A 22-year-old woman from Lake Elsinore was killed early Monday morning, Sept. 2, in a rear-end collision on Interstate 15, south of Central Avenue (SR-74), according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The crash occurred around 3:15 a.m. when the woman, driving a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze southbound on I-15 at a high rate of speed, collided with a 2019 Ford flatbed tow truck,Â
driven by a 52-year-old male from Wildomar, who was also driving southbound on I-15, just south of Central Avenue (SR-74) in the #3 lane at approximately 45 miles per hour.Â
The Chevrolet Cruze was reportedly moving in excess of 70 miles per hour when it struck the rear of the tow truck.
The impact of the collision resulted in fatal injuries to the right front passenger of the Chevrolet Cruze, who was a 22-year-old female from Lake Elsinore. The coroner has Melissa Lopez, age 22, from Lake Elsinore as a deceased woman from an accident at the same time and same place.Â
CHP and CAL Fire personnel responded to the scene of the accident. The driver of the Chevrolet Cruze, Tudda Teeanna Tran, was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center with major injuries. Upon investigation, CHP officers determined that the driver had been operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. She was subsequently arrested for felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. The driver remains hospitalized at Inland Valley Medical Center.
The Temecula Area CHP office is continuing its investigation into the fatal collision. Authorities are urging any witnesses to contact CHP Temecula at (951) 466-4300.
The CHP would like to remind the motoring public to always designate a sober driver. DUI’s are 100 % preventable, if you drink or ingest anything that may impair you, don’t drive.
