Murrieta Man Dies After Crashing Truck Into Tree

A 62-year-old Murrieta man died early Thursday after he crashed his pick-up truck head-on into a tree, according to police.

Murrieta police responded to the crash at 5:20 a.m. at Adams Avenue just south of Hutchison Court, said Murrieta police Sgt. Jim Gruwell, in a news release.

"Upon arrival, officers discovered that a white 1989 Chevrolet pick-up truck veered off the roadway head-on into a large tree," Gruwell said. "The driver, a 62-year-old male, was found in the driver’s seat with serious life threatening injuries."

The driver—identified Thursday afternoon by the sheriff-coroner's office as Richard Hermosillo of Murrieta—was treated at the scene and then transported to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, where he died from his injuries at 7:48 a.m., the sergeant said.

According to the coroner's report, Hermosillo was not wearing a seatbelt when the truck left the roadway for unknown reasons and struck a tree. He was not ejected, authorities said.

The Murrieta Police Department Traffic Unit responded to the crash site and determined the victim had been driving southbound on Adams when the collision occurred. The investigation is ongoing, Gruwell said.

Anyone with information related to the crash was asked to contact Officer Robert Aberle at 951-461-6391.