A preliminary investigation determined that a pedestrian was walking on southbound Grand Avenue when he was hit by a southbound Toyota Rav4
Lake Elsinore, CA – A man died Sunday night when he was hit by a vehicle on South Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore, according to a report by the California Highway Patrol.
The incident was reported just before 10 p.m. February 22, just north of Marvella Lane.
A preliminary investigation determined that a pedestrian was walking on southbound Grand Avenue when he was hit by a southbound Toyota Rav4. The driver attempted to swerve to avoid the pedestrian but was unsuccessful.
CHP and the Riverside County Fire Department immediately responded to the scene of the collision. Medics declared the pedestrian deceased at the scene.
Authorities have identified the pedestrian as 48-year-old Lake Elsinore resident, Benjamin Douglass.
The driver, a 51-year-old Murrieta man, stopped at the scene after the collision and was at the scene when authorities arrived. He was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar and was said to be in stable condition.
Authorities determined that the driver had been driving while impaired. The driver was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI.
The California Highway Patrol is looking into the information gathered to establish the cause of the accident.
Lake Elsinore, a growing Riverside County city with heavy traffic on Interstate 15 and local routes like SR-74, records hundreds of injury-involved traffic collisions annually, far outnumbering fatalities. According to Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) data, the city saw approximately 211 crash-related injuries and fatalities in 2023, reflecting a five-year annual average fatality/injury rate of around 211.8. Alcohol-impaired crashes contributed significantly, with 32 deaths and injuries that year alone. Thousands of minor and property-damage incidents occur regionally, but severe and visible injuries dominate reports on freeways and arterials. Common causes of these accidents include speeding, DUI, distractions, and hit-and-runs, often affecting motorists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. Recent major injury collisions in 2025 underscore ongoing risks. Local enforcement and Vision Zero-aligned efforts aim to reduce these through targeted patrols and infrastructure improvements, though rates remain concerning amid population growth.
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