Woman ID'd In Deadly In Ortega Highway Wreck

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A woman who died in a wreck on the Ortega Highway on Thanksgiving night has been publicly identified. The solo-vehicle happened along the infamously dangerous Ortega Highway in the El Cariso community.

According to the Riverside County coroner's office, Runhild Wiegand died about an hour after the 8:39 p.m. crash. She was 83 and lived in Austria, the coroner's office said.

The crash happened in the 32000 block of the Ortega Highway, near Decker Canyon Road, according to fire and sheriff's officials. Only one vehicle was involved.

CHP Officer Mike Lassig says Wiegand was sitting in the right, rear seat of a 2014 Toyota Camry when the wreck occurred. A Murrieta man was behind the wheel, while an Austrian man was in the front passenger seat.

"[The Murrieta man] was driving... eastbound on SR-74... at approximately 35-45 mph during raining conditions," Lassig said in a CHP report. "A large rock had slid off the hillside and came to rest in the eastbound traffic lane just east of [the Murrieta man's] location."

As the driver hit a curve in the roadway, he "came upon the large rock in the eastbound traffic lane" and "was unable to slow or stop," Lassig said. The man slammed into the boulder.

Wiegand was rushed to the hospital, but died from her injuries sustained in the crash, Lassig said.

— City News Service contributed to this report