Crime & Safety

Authorities ID Woman Killed in Murrieta Crash

Lola J. Matson, 31, of Vista, was killed in a solo car crash early Thursday on Winchester Road in Murrieta, the coroner's office reported today.

A woman who died in a car crash early Thursday in Murrieta has been identified.

Lola J. Matson, 31, of Vista, died when she lost control of her car at about 2:27 a.m. Thursday on Winchester Road just south of Robert Trent Jones Parkway, according to a coroner's report released today.

Matson was traveling alone, according to the report, and lost control of the 2003 Mitsubishi she was driving. Matson was ejected when her car rolled several times, landing in a dirt ravine.

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"The driver...was found lying on the ground at the base of the embankment near her vehicle which was found lying on its left side," said Murrieta police Sgt. Jim Gruwell, in a news release about the accident.

Matson was treated and taken to in Murrieta, where she was pronounced dead at 3:19 a.m., the sergeant said. 

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"Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had been traveling southbound on Winchester Road past Robert Trent Jones (Parkway) when it suddenly veered left onto the raised center median," Gruwell said.

"The vehicle continued traveling in a southeast direction in the northbound lanes of traffic before driving off the roadway, striking a large tree and falling down the steep embankment."

The Murrieta Police Department's Traffic Unit was continuing its investigation into the accident, Gruwell said.

Anyone with information was asked to call Detective Vincent Jimno at 951- 461-6303.


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