DUI murder charges filed in Canyon Lake double fatality

Jose Luis Sepulveda

Second degree murder charges were filed last week in the double fatality traffic accident that occurred Jan. 24 on Railroad Canyon Road near the entrance to the Country Club.

Sheriff deputies arrested Jose Luis Sepulveda, 33, of Lake Elsinore for second degree murder, DUI Alcohol causing great bodily injury and other charges. Sepulveda was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center where he is being held in lieu of a two-million dollar bail.

Killed in the accident were two women from Lake Elsinore. Riverside County Fire Department officials along with the paramedics responded to the accident and pronounced 57-year-old Benita Heyden dead at the scene. Medical personnel immediately transported 58-year-old Tina Slatten to Riverside University Health Systems Medical Center where she later died. Other involved parties were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

Deputies said a vehicle driven by the suspect was traveling eastbound on Railroad Canyon Road and collided with the back of a vehicle that was also traveling eastbound. One of the vehicles then crossed over the center divider and collided with the victims’ vehicle traveling westbound.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision and has not been interviewed is encouraged to contact Deputy Maldonado at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Perris Station (951) 210-1077.

The Perris Station Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to the location and assumed the investigation. Railroad Canyon Road was closed in both directions for several hours while deputies processed the scene.