18-Year-Old Man Killed In Interstate 10 Calimesa Crash

CALIMESA, CA ? An 18-year-old man was killed on Interstate 10 in Calimesa when he apparently lost control of his vehicle and it went off the freeway, overturning in a drainage canal, authorities said Tuesday.

Rodrigo Lucero of San Bernardino was fatally injured around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday on westbound I-10 at Cherry Valley Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Edward Nunez told City News Service that Lucero was driving his 2008 Honda Civic at an unconfirmed speed in the No. 3 lane when, "for reasons yet to be determined, he veered to the right, going off the freeway."

"The vehicle overturned, but the driver was not ejected," Nunez said, adding that Lucero had been wearing his seatbelt, and the car's airbag had deployed.

The sedan came to rest just below the intersection of Cherry Valley and Calimesa boulevards.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene 15 minutes later.

"It is unknown whether alcohol or drugs were factors in this crash," Nunez said.

An autopsy was pending Tuesday.

According to Nunez, there were no details regarding where Lucero had come from, or where he intended to go.