(Riverside, CA) A Kia Sportage traveling the wrong way struck a Volkswagen Jetta head-on on the westbound Riverside Freeway (State Route 91) near 14th Street on November 12.
On Thursday, at about 2 a.m., multiple drivers reported a wrong-way vehicle on the freeway in downtown Riverside, CHP Officer Javier Navarro said. Officers began looking for the Kia, which Navarro said was traveling east in the No. 2 westbound lane. Madison Street was a possible entry point.
About eight minutes after the initial 911 calls, the Kia hit the Jetta head-on, Navarro said. The impact overturned the Jetta, and a semi truck struck the car while it was still moving. The collisions blocked all westbound lanes.
Riverside Fire Department paramedics and CHP officers reached the scene within minutes. The man driving the Kia, his female passenger, and a woman in the Jetta were pronounced dead at the scene. Navarro said the truck driver was uninjured.
The big rig sustained significant damage and required a heavy-duty tow, Navarro added. Crews cleared the wreckage by midmorning, and officers reopened the westbound lanes. Autopsies were pending as the investigation continued Friday. The CHP asked anyone with information to call its Riverside Area Office at 951-324-7210.
Understanding the 91 Freeway Collision
As more details of this accident come to light, investigators will review several laws to determine which laws have been violated. Considering witness reports of a vehicle driving the wrong way, this gives the investigators a starting point.
California Vehicle Code 21651 requires drivers to stay to the right of the barrier or divider separating opposing traffic. Navarro said the Kia was traveling east in the No. 2 westbound lane before the crash. That account places the Kia on the wrong side of the divider, even though Madison Street remains only a possible entry point.
California Vehicle Code 22350 requires drivers to travel at a speed that is safe for traffic, visibility and road conditions. The witness reports raise a separate question about the Kia’s speed before the head-on impact. An estimate of that speed would help show how quickly the Kia and Jetta closed the distance between them.
With these laws, investigators will be able to understand what the wrong-way driver may face, and see what other laws apply.
Advice for the Family
When you call the Riverside CHP office about the 91 Freeway collision, give the November 12 date and the location near 14th Street so staff can identify the case. If you need to follow up about the crash sequence, ask for the collision report number so you can refer to the same investigation when you call again.
If you have any concerns about navigating the legal process surrounding this incident, call 888-888-9285 to speak with a lawyer.
