Murrieta Man Dies in Head-On Collision

UPDATE 2 p.m. July 7: The driver of the pick-up in the accident is expected to survive his injuries, Murrieta Police said Thursday.

Investigators with the Murrieta Police Department have ordered toxicology tests on the driver, as they suspect alcohol could have been a factor in the accident, said Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad.

Toxicology reports can take weeks to process. If results come back positive, the driver could potentially face charges, the lieutenant said.

ORIGINAL POST:

An elderly Murrieta man died late Wednesday when the car he was driving was hit head-on.

Richard "Dick" Johnson, 84, was pronounced dead at 9:33 p.m., shortly after he was rushed to Inland Valley Medical Center to be treated for life-threatening injuries suffered in the crash, according to the Riverside County Coroner's office.

At about 8:50 p.m., Johnson was driving an older model Lincoln sedan, traveling in the 38900 block of Clinton Keith Road near Cal Fire/Riverside County Station No. 75.

Traveling in the opposite direction was the driver of a pick-up truck, which hit Johnson head on, according to the coroner's office.

The Murrieta Police Department is handling the crash investigation.

The driver of the pick-up truck, a 44-year-old man, also suffered critical injuries. No word on his condition was available.

Johnson was a longtime La Cresta resident and a horseman, friends said. He owned a ranch property known as Diamond J Ranch. Retired, Johnson formerly owned a car dealership in Orange County. He had a large family and was married.