CHP: Fight inside car possibly caused deadly rollover wreck near Temecula
A drunken altercation between a motorist and her husband may have triggered a rollover wreck on Highway 79 just east of Temecula that killed him and seriously injured her, authorities said today.
Steven Craine, 50, of Winchester was fatally injured in the crash shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday on westbound 79 at Pauba Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officer Mike Lassig said that 59-year-old Desire A. Craine was at the wheel of a 2018 Nissan Sentra traveling between 60 and 80 mph when a "possible physical altercation" erupted between her and the victim.
"The Nissan was observed to have crossed into the opposing lane on multiple occasions,'' Lassig said. "The vehicle traveled around a curve in the road as it approached Pauba. The driver failed to traverse the curve safely, causing the Nissan to travel off of the roadway and roll over multiple times."
The CHP spokesman said that Steven Craine, who was not wearing a safety restraint, was hurled out of the sedan onto the dirt shoulder of the highway.
Riverside County Fire Department paramedics reached the location minutes later and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Desire Craine was extricated from the Nissan and taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar with major life-threatening injuries.
"Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in this fatal traffic collision,'' Lassig said.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the CHP's Temecula office at 951-506-2000.
