RIVERSIDE: One killed, one in critical condition, after 91 Freeway rollover

RIVERSIDE – One person died and another was critically injured after an early-morning, rollover accident, Sunday May 14. The deadly wreck, that happened less than two hours into Mother’s Day, happened on the eastbound 91 Freeway near the Fourteenth Street on ramp in Riverside.

California Highway Patrol officers, City of Riverside firefighters and American Medical Response medics responded to multiple 911 calls from motorists and witnesses reporting a single-vehicle, rollover traffic accident on the 91 freeway. The fatal accident was reported at 1:46 a.m.

According to a CHP incident log, a silver sedan lost control and rolled several times, ending up at the bottom of the on ramp. Callers told dispatchers the vehicle was smoking and that an occupant from the vehicle had been ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. Callers also advised there was a second victim trapped inside the wrecked car.

When officials arrived at the scene they found the destroyed vehicle as well as vehicle parts and debris strewn across the freeway.

Officials also located a person who had been ejected and a second victim who was trapped inside the mangled wreckage of their car. The sedan was so badly damaged after the wreck it was left unrecognizable.

Medical personnel at the scene quickly determined the ejected victim had suffered major, traumatic injuries. Despite life-saving efforts, the subject succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was not immediately known if the ejected victim had been wearing their seat belt at the time of the deadly accident.

Coroner’s officials have not yet identified the victim, pending notification of the person’s family.

Firefighters used the “Jaws of Life” to extricate the victim trapped in the car. The occupant was reportedly critically injured and clinging to life.

Riverside Fire Department Battalion Chief Tony Perna later updated that although the person who was ejected had died, the other victim was successfully extricated from the car and taken to a nearby hospital. The victim was listed in critical condition.

During their investigation officials called for the temporary closure of portions of the eastbound freeway as well as the Fourteenth Street on ramp. The closures remained in effect for several hours until officials completed their initial investigation and the wrecked vehicle was removed from the freeway.

Officers at the scene declined to comment regarding the accident.

California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the deadly crash and officers are still working to determine what led to the accident. It is not yet known if alcohol or drug intoxication were contributing factors in the wreck.

Their investigation is active and ongoing.

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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.