Crime & Safety
Mission Viejo Man Died in Plunge Off Ortega Highway
Bijan Momtaz, 41, of Mission Viejo, was pronounced dead at 12:17 p.m. Monday after rescue officials located his body 350 feet down a steep highway drop-off.
The man who near Lake Elsinore has been identified.
Bijan Momtaz, 41, of Mission Viejo, was pronounced dead at 12:17 p.m. Monday after rescue officials located his body 350 feet down a steep highway drop-off.
According to witnesses, Momtaz was traveling eastbound and drove directly into the westbound lane and over the highway's edge without braking.
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No passengers were in the vehicle, described as a Toyota 4Runner by California Highway Patrol.
"We're not sure if (the crash) is intentional or unintentional," said CHP officer Nathan Baer, who was at the investigation scene Monday. "The 4runner did not negotiate the turn."
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Momtaz was ejected and Baer said investigators have reason to believe he was not wearing a safety belt.
The solo crash, which was reported just after 11 a.m. Monday approximately a half mile west of the Lookout Roadhouse, is under investigation.
According to Baer, because the crash site is steep and remote, the 4Runner will not be extricated from the area.
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