Northbound I-15 Reopens After Pedestrian Killed in Lake Elsinore

Northbound Interstate 15 reopened Friday morning in Southwest Riverside County after a male pedestrian was struck and killed on the busy interstate early today.

The California Highway Patrol website reported the lanes were reopened as of 10:25 a.m.

The man, identified by the Riverside County Sheriff/Coroner's as Joshua Eugene Epling, 21, of Lake Elsinore, was struck several times on the freeway at about 3:21 a.m., 1.47 milles south of the Railroad Canyon Road/Diamond Drive exit.

It is unclear why the Epling was walking on the freeway. He was carrying a Nintendo Wii and a case of beer.

Debris and body parts were strewn across the freeway, and authorities said he was struck by multiple cars.

Vontrice Charles, a 31-year-old female motorist from Perris driving a burgundy Toyota Scion tried to avoid the victim, but struck him as he ran across the freeway in an easterly direction, the CHP reported.

She was traveling approximately 65-70 mph, the CHP reported, and her vehicle sustained major damage. She was not driving under the influence.

Traffic was being rerouted onto the Bundy Canyon Road exit and electronic signs on I-15 as far south as Rainbow were advising motorists of the closure. Travelers were being asked to avoid the northbound 15 through the Temecula and Elsinore valleys.

At 10:25 a.m, the CHP advised all sign messages could be removed because the lanes were reopened.