Hemet Man in Custody After Fatal Accident on Highway 74

One man is dead and a second man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter after a head-on collision on Highway 74 in the Homeland community, just east of Menifee, Wednesday morning.

According to a California Highway Patrol report, Hector Suarez-Carreon, 27, of Hemet was driving a Ford Ranger pickup truck westbound on Highway 74 near Steinhoff Avenue at approximately 60 mph around 7 a.m. For an unknown reason, his vehicle drifted into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with a Jeep Cherokee driven by a man identified by the Coroner's office as David Preciado, 26, of Hemet.

The Jeep Cherokee spun around and rolled down a dirt embankment, according to the CHP. Preciado, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle. The victim was transported to Menifee Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead of his injuries.

Suarez-Carreon was booked into the Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of vehicle manslaughter with gross negligence.