Menifee Man Arrested on Suspicion of Vehicular Homicide, Hit and Run in Accident That Killed Temecula Woman

A Menifee man was arrested and booked for vehicular homicide and hit and run following a multi-vehicle accident Monday in which a woman died, Temecula Police reported today.

Travis Hughes Braswell, 63, of Menifee was driving a pickup truck that failed to stop for a red light at the Town Center Shopping Center while traveling west on Rancho California Road in Temecula, according to witnesses. The truck struck a gold Pontiac, then spun out and struck a gold Saturn. The truck came to rest facing east on Rancho California Road. The accident occurred at about 2:45 p.m. Monday.

According to police, the Pontiac and Saturn were heavily damaged and remained in the intersection. Each vehicle contained one female occupant. The suspect then fled the scene east on Rancho California Road and into the Temecula Town Center. He was located and detained at that location by officers.

The driver of the Pontiac, identified as 27-year-old Sharina Thomason of Escondido, was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The driver of the Saturn, a 38-year-old female from Corona, was also transported to a local hospital.

Braswell was transported to a local hospital, treated and released. He was then arrested and booked at the Southwest Detention Center.

This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with further information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the Temecula Police Department at 951-696-3000.