Details, IDs Released In Fatal Temecula 1-15 Crash: CHP

TEMECULA, CA ? A two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning on Interstate 15 in Temecula was a series of avoidable circumstances that led to tragedy, according to details in a preliminary report from the California Highway Patrol.

One driver was not wearing a seatbelt and died after being ejected from his vehicle. The other driver is behind bars on suspicion of DUI.

According to the CHP report, at about 6:18 a.m., Brian David Ortiz Jr., 19, of Temecula was heading north at about 70 mph in the freeway's #1 lane, near the state Route 79/Temecula Parkway exit, when he reportedly saw a block of wood on the roadway. He swerved his Toyota Camry sedan to avoid the hazard but rear-ended a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck in the process.

The impact sent the Tacoma spinning, and it overturned in the center median. The truck's driver, Francisco Torres, 52, of San Jacinto was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from his vehicle onto the #2 lane of southbound I-15. He died at the scene, according to the CHP.

No other injuries were reported in the crash.

Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing great bodily injury, and DUI with injury ? all felonies. He is being held at Southwest Detention Center in lieu of $75,000 bail, jail records show. Formal charges were pending Wednesday morning.

The CHP's Temecula Area office is continuing to investigate the crash. Witnesses are asked to contact Officer Harris, ID #15906, at 951-506-2000.