Canyon Lake man dies in local accident

A 75-year-old Canyon Lake man apparently suffered a “medical emergency” Friday and, traveling at a high-rate of speed, his car left Canyon Lake Drive North and collided with various parked vehicles and houses before landing on its side. After being extricated from his car and transported to Inland Valley Regional Medical Center, he died of his injuries, police said.

Leroy Jensen was driving eastbound on Canyon Lake Drive North near Sloop Drive just before 7:00 p.m. Friday when the car he was driving left the road and collided with three parked cars and houses before coming to rest up against one of the houses it hit.

Emergency personnel from Cal Fire attend to Leroy Jensen after the car he was driving collided with several parked cars and residences at Canyon Lake Drive North and Sloop Drive Friday. Leroy died from his injuries. Photo by J. Mike Guzman Jr.

Leroy suffered major injuries as a result of the accident and emergency personnel from Cal Fire arrived within minutes and began immediately to remove him from being trapped in the vehicle. He was then transported to the hospital where, at 12:07 a.m. early Saturday, he succumbed from his injuries.

“Preliminary investigation revealed the injured driver was traveling east on Canyon Lake Dr. near Sloop Dr. at a high rate of speed,” Sergeant Brad Foster of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, said. “The driver suffered an apparent medical emergency, and his vehicle left the roadway, colliding with the parked vehicles and residences. The Lake Elsinore Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team is investigating the collision at this time.”

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is encouraged to contact Deputy Timothy Wisniewski at 951-245-3000 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 951-776-1099.