A tragic incident unfolded on Interstate 15 in Temescal Valley, resulting in the death of a 79-year-old motorist and injuries to four other individuals in a four-vehicle collision, as reported by authorities on Thursday.

Gene Kittiko, hailing from Ontario, met a fatal fate shortly after 10 p.m. on Wednesday while traveling northbound on I-15, just south of Indian Truck Trail, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

Amid heavy rainfall along the corridor, Kittiko’s sedan collided with two other cars and an SUV, the CHP revealed. It’s believed that one of the vehicles hydroplaned in the fast lane, potentially triggering the collision, although specific details remain elusive.

Riverside County Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene approximately 20 minutes later, where they found Kittiko critically injured and unresponsive.

Despite efforts to save him, Kittiko succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight Thursday at Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar.

The four other victims were also transported to the same medical facility for treatment, with one sustaining severe injuries and the remaining three experiencing moderate injuries, according to the fire department.

Following the collision, the northbound lanes of the freeway were completely shut down for over an hour, gradually reopening under the supervision of officers. Normal traffic flow resumed on the entire northbound side of the artery by 1 a.m. Thursday.

As authorities continue to investigate the crash, the cause remains under scrutiny, awaiting further details to shed light on the tragic incident.