Traffic fatality on 243
Neighbors in the 21400 block of highway 243 heard an explosion that “sounded like thunder” Friday morning, October 25, at around 7 a.m., and saw flames and white smoke. Engines from CalFire and Riverside County Fire responded as well as at least seven black and white units from CHP and RSO. On the scene, Officer Householder of Riverside Sheriff Office explained that there had been a single vehicle crash resulting in a fatality, which started a fire on the steep, brush-covered hillside. The vehicle went over the edge in a stretch without guardrails and came to rest 30 feet below the road. CDF was called to help with extraction of the vehicle.
The CHP incident report said the driver was badly burned and no VIN was visible on the vehicle. Riverside County Fire Department PIO Maggie Cline De La Rosa added that a 100 x 100 foot area of vegetation was burned, but the fire was quickly contained.
Jonathon Torres of the CHP said the car was a 2022 Nissan Altima, and the driver an adult male whose identity has not yet been released by the Coroner’s Office. It is unknown if drugs or alcohol played a part.
