UPDATED: MURRIETA: Man killed after being struck by “numerous vehicles” while crossing I-215

UPDATE: 1/9/2016 4:30 p.m. With coroner’s release of information

MURRIETA – A 23-year-old Chula Vista resident died when he was struck by at least four vehicles on the southbound Interstate 215 Freeway Sunday, Jan. 8. The man was killed about 8:20 p.m., while he was attempting to run across lanes of traffic after his vehicle broke down on the freeway, according to a California Highway Patrol official.

Coroner’s officials later identified Julian Martinez as the victim killed in the tragic vehicle versus pedestrian accident. Martinez was fatally struck about two-tenths of one mile north of Clinton Keith Road in Murrieta. Coroner’s officials listed his time of death as 8:46 p.m.

The deadly accident happened after Martinez’s vehicle broke down while traveling northbound on the I-215 freeway, according to CHP Officer Mike Lassig.

After Martinez’s vehicle became disabled, he successfully “crossed the northbound lanes of I-215 on foot, hopped the center divider wall, and attempted to cross southbound lanes,” Lassig explained.

As Martinez began to cross the southbound lanes of traffic he stepped directly into the path of a 2004 Infiniti, whose driver, a 19-year-old male from Cambridge, Arkansas, could not avoid hitting him, according to Lassig.

After Martinez was struck by the Infiniti, he was subsequently struck by several other vehicles, including a 2003 Buick being driven by a 26-year-old male from San Marcos, a 2003 Jeep Cherokee driven by a 48-year-old male from Oceanside, and a 2016 Hyundai driven by a 22-year-old male from Des Plaines Illinois.

None of the four drivers were injured in the multiple collisions and all four drivers later told investigating officers their vehicles were not the only four that struck the victim.

“All parties stated that numerous other vehicles struck (Martinez) prior to emergency personnel arriving on scene,” Lassig explained after the deadly chain reaction accident; however, no other drivers stopped after running over Martinez’s body.

When officers arrived they “immediately determined (Martinez) was deceased,” Lassig said. Officers are searching for information regarding the other drivers who failed to stop after striking Martinez.

Lassig said alcohol and/or drug intoxication had not been ruled out as contributing factors in Martinez’s death, pending an autopsy and coroner’s findings.

Anyone with information about the deadly accident or who has information about any of the other vehicles that struck Martinez and failed to stop are encouraged to contact CHP officials from the Temecula area station at (951) 506-2000. Callers can remain anonymous.

 

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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.