Temecula Man Charged With Murder In Fatal Lake Elsinore DUI Crash

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A Temecula man suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a deadly crash on Interstate 15 in Lake Elsinore remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $1 million bail.

Nick Clinton Lewis, 55, was arrested early Jan. 9 in connection with the crash that killed 49-year-old Franciso DeLuna of Perris.

Just before midnight on Jan. 8., DeLuna was driving south on I-15 through Lake Elsinore in a 2020 Nissan Versa when he slowed due to a traffic break ahead of him. Lewis was behind him in a 2015 GMC Sierra and failed to see the slowdown. The Temecula man plowed into DeLuna's car, and the impact sent the Versa crashing into the center divider just north of Franklin Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

DeLuna died at the scene.

Instead of stopping, the CHP alleged that Lewis tried to flee by driving on the right shoulder of the freeway to escape the slowed traffic. A CHP unit in the area spotted the truck with front-end damage near Railroad Canyon Road and made a traffic stop. Lewis, who was uninjured, was arrested on the spot.

According to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, Lewis has been charged with murder, driving under the influence, and hit and run. He is due to be arraigned Thursday at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center.

A GoFundMe page set up for DeLuna's wife said "Pancho" was "a great father, husband and grandfather. He was loved by many. He would do anything for his loved ones, always though of others before himself.

"He impacted many people's lives and will be greatly missed," the page continued. "The funds will go to help with funeral arrangements and to help his beloved wife that he left behind."

As of Wednesday afternoon, the page had raised more than $5,300.

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