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TEMECULA, Calif. – A traffic collision believed to be caused by a DUI driver killed one and injured four others during the morning rush hour.

On Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at around 7:20 a.m., the traffic collision occurred on the 15 freeway near Rancho California Road in Temecula the driver of a pickup truck at a high rate of speed slammed into the back of a vehicle. The top half of the vehicle was shaved off by the crash, while two other vehicles were hit, sending one off the freeway into the Temecula City Hall parking structure and the other into the center divider.

Carrie Michaels posted to Temecula Talk (Official), a Facebook Page that she had witnessed the collision. “I just watched the entire accident from beginning to end of this morning’s fatal crash on the 15 freeway. My heart is shattered for the family who lost their loved one! The man who hit them, appeared to try to run from his vehicle, until he collapsed.” Witnesses ran to the vehicle that took the brunt of the impact but after a glance, each walked away to check for occupants in the truck.

The driver of the truck, now suspected of driving under the influence, exited the truck and stumbled over the center divider and onto the northbound side before falling onto the ground. Authorities said that besides for the deceased person, who is yet to be identified, two are suffering from major injuries and two others from mild to moderate injuries. The collision caused the southbound 15 freeway to remain closed until around 11:20 a.m. when it was reopened to traffic.