A 54-year-old man was killed Friday night after his car collided with a Southern California Edison utility truck near Menifee Road and McLaughlin Road, according to Menifee police. The crash was reported at about 8 p.m., and first responders found the vehicle with major damage before pronouncing the driver dead at the scene.
According to a Menifee Police Department news release reported by CBS Los Angeles, officers arrived to find a 2024 Toyota Prius with extensive damage after it collided with a Southern California Edison utility truck that was pulling a wooden electrical pole. Investigators say the utility truck was turning left from the driveway of an Edison substation on Menifee Road when the crash occurred. Riverside County Fire Department paramedics pronounced the driver dead at the scene, and police are asking anyone who saw the collision to contact the department’s Traffic Unit at (951) 723-1634.
How the authorities described the collision
"The Toyota Prius subsequently struck the wooden electrical pole being pulled by the truck," the Menifee Police Department news release stated. Investigators told CBS Los Angeles that alcohol or drugs did not appear to be factors as they continue working to determine exactly what caused the crash.
Southern California Edison and local response
Southern California Edison operates the power distribution network in the area, and its corporate newsroom lists a media hotline for reporters seeking comment. Menifee police are leading the on-scene investigation and have asked anyone with information to come forward to assist detectives.
What investigators will examine
Traffic investigators are expected to collect physical evidence, canvass for witnesses, and review nearby surveillance or dashcam footage as they reconstruct the sequence of events. Residents who want to report tips or request more information can find contact details on the Menifee Police Department's traffic page, Menifee Police Department.
