Victim in Temecula Car Crash Dies From Injuries

The victim of a Temecula car crash Sunday has died from his injuries, the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's office confirmed today.

Nicholas Musto, 25, of Massapequa Park, NY, was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m Tuesday at Inland Valley Regional Medical Center in Wildomar, the coroner's office said, where he was taken following the crash Sunday at Yukon and Rancho California Roads.

Musto—a Marine reservist, according to the coroner's office—was driving a 1997 Nissan Maxima when he was struck at about 3:35 p.m. Sunday by an SUV near the intersection of Rancho California and Yukon roads, sheriff's officials said in a news release.

"Upon the officers' arrival, along with other rescue personnel, they discovered a 1997 Nissan Maxima and a 2012 GMC Acadia resting on their wheels in the westbound lanes of Rancho California," said sheriff's Sgt. John Magnan in the news release.

Musto suffered major injuries when he became trapped in the wreckage of his car, and firefighter/paramedics were forced to perform a cut-and-rescue to remove him, according to CAL FIRE/Riverside County.

Two others suffered minor injures, CAL FIRE reported.

The roadway was closed for nearly four hours as sheriff's officials investigated the crash.

Several witnesses were interviewed, according to Magnan.

It was preliminarily determined that the driver of the GMC Acadia—identified as Jennifer Moss, of Temecula—allegedly ran a red light and broadsided the Nissan, Magnan said.

Initial investigation determined that neither drugs nor alcohol were factors,  Magnan said.

The cause of the crash was still under investigation and anyone with information that could help officers was asked to call 951-696-3000.