(Riverside, CA) Three people died in a three-vehicle collision on the westbound Riverside Freeway (State Route 91) east of 14th Street on November 12.
On Thursday, at about 2:01 a.m., witnesses reported a vehicle traveling east at high speed in the westbound lanes east of University Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol. A minute later, a witness reported that a black sedan, a big rig and an SUV had collided east of 14th Street.
Video from the scene showed a dark vehicle with heavy front-end damage facing east in the westbound lanes. The footage also showed the big rig in the right lane and a light-colored SUV against a concrete barrier on the shoulder.
All three deaths occurred at the scene, the CHP dispatcher said. A news videographer at the scene said an ambulance took a fourth person to a hospital. The extent of that person’s injuries was unclear.
CHP officers are currently investigating the collision and arranged for Caltrans to clear debris from the lanes.
Analysis of the Riverside (91) Freeway Crash
The first witness reports raise two questions about the vehicle seen east of University Avenue. Which direction was it traveling before impact, and how much time did its speed leave for drivers to react?
California Vehicle Code 21651 requires drivers to stay to the right of the barrier or divider separating opposing traffic on a divided highway. The witness report of eastbound travel in the westbound lanes bears directly on that rule. The direction a vehicle faced after the collision shows where it came to rest. Its path before impact is the relevant detail for applying the rule.
California Vehicle Code 22350 requires drivers to travel at a speed that is safe for traffic, visibility and road conditions. The witness’s description of high speed makes the vehicle’s actual speed relevant to reconstructing the collision. An estimate of its speed and distance from the other vehicles before impact could help establish how much time drivers had to respond.
Advice for the Family
When you speak with the California Highway Patrol about the Riverside (91) Freeway crash, ask whether investigators have connected the vehicle reported near University Avenue to one of the three vehicles involved near 14th Street. That can help you understand which part of the sequence investigators have confirmed and which details still come from the initial witness calls.
If you have any concerns about navigating the legal process surrounding this incident, call 888-888-9285 to speak with a lawyer.
