Deadly I-10 Wreck: Coroner IDs Banning Man Killed In Crash

BANNING, CA — A Banning man was behind the wheel of a vehicle that overturned on Interstate 10 this week, leading to at least one other crash on the freeway in the early morning hours Wednesday and prompting an hours-long freeway closure, the California Highway Patrol reports.

The deadly wreck happened around 2:25 a.m. Wednesday as 25-year-old Caesar Augusto Ortiz Jr. was headed westbound on I-10, near Oak Glen Road, in a 2008 Kia Sorento according to CHP Officer Ivan Sandoval.

"For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the Kia was involved in a collision causing the vehicle to overturn and come to rest on its roof within the #1 lane of I-10 westbound, east of Oak Glen Road," Sandoval said in a news release.

Then, just minutes later, a San Jacinto man in a 2009 Toyota Camry slammed into the disabled Kia, Sandoval said.

"As a result of the collision, the... driver of the Kia succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene."

Following the crash, all lanes of the westbound side of I-10 were closed for several hours, according to Caltrans. One eastbound lane was also temporarily shut down.

The CHP asked that if anyone saw the crash or has information related to the incident, to call Officer J. Gill at the San Bernardino CHP Office at (909) 383-4247.