Murrieta fatal crash scene the site of another incident, residents rattled

Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, an accident involving a black Pontiac that rear-ended a Jeep Grand Cherokee at the intersection of Jackson Ave. and Robards Way caused significant damage to both vehicles. 

Read: Update: Pedestrian struck by truck in Murrieta identified

The driver of the Pontiac reportedly exited the vehicle and fled southbound on Jackson Avenue, according to radio transmissions.

The driver was taken into custody by a Murrieta Police Officer who was responding to the traffic accident at the intersection of Nutmeg Street and Jackson Ave. radio transmissions suggested.

Additional chatter indicated that the man was believed to be intoxicated, and that a witness to the accident was taken to the location where the subject was taken into custody to positively identify the driver to police officers.

Some witness accounts at the scene said that the Pontiac actually collided with the Jeep twice.

According to Paramedic Engineer Matt Corelli with the Murrieta Fire Department, there were four occupants in the Jeep when it was struck. 

Although some of the occupants appeared to have received minor scrapes and cuts, all four of them refused medical treatment at the scene, Corelli said.

Friday night’s accident happened in the same intersection where 26-year-old Alaina “Laney” Cisneros was struck by a pickup truck driven by a teenage boy on Tuesday night. 

Cisneros succumbed to her injuries days later.

Dozens of local residents came from their homes to observe Friday night’s scene, still on edge from the earlier incident.

Joe Fanaselle is a photojournalist and regular contributor to SWRNN.