Three Killed in Wrong Way Crash on Riverside 91 Freeway

RIVERSIDE, CA – Three people died early Thursday after a Kia Sportage traveled east in the westbound lanes of the Riverside Freeway and struck a Volkswagen Jetta head-on near downtown Riverside, California Highway Patrol officials said. The Jetta overturned and was then struck by a tractor-trailer.

The collisions occurred shortly after 2 a.m. Nov. 12 on the westbound 91 Freeway near 14th Street. The Kia driver, a woman riding in the Kia and the woman driving the Jetta were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names had not been released by Friday morning.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, we’d like to speak with you. Our accident attorneys are available for a free and confidential consultation, 24/7.

Drivers Reported a Wrong Way Vehicle on 91 Freeway

Multiple motorists called 911 after seeing a silver Kia traveling against traffic at a high rate of speed. One witness described the vehicle as swerving between lanes. The CHP collision account said the driver may have entered the freeway at Madison Street while intending to travel east, but instead reached the westbound side near University Avenue.

CHP Officer Javier Navarro said the head-on impact caused the Jetta to roll while it was still moving. The tractor-trailer then struck the car. The truck driver was not injured, although the big rig sustained substantial damage and required a heavy-duty tow.

Three Died and One Was Hospitalized in Riverside Accident

Officers and Riverside Fire Department paramedics reached the crash within minutes. The Kia driver and his passenger were found unresponsive inside the Sportage, while the woman in the Jetta also died at the scene. A later casualty update said a fourth person was taken to a hospital, but authorities had not described that person’s vehicle or condition.

The collision blocked the westbound freeway and left debris across the traffic lanes. The damaged Jetta was pushed against a concrete barrier along the shoulder, while the Kia remained in the middle of the freeway. Officers issued a Sigalert and closed the 14th Street on-ramp while investigators documented the scene and tow crews removed the vehicles.

Only the carpool lane initially remained available to westbound traffic, and the backup extended for more than a mile during the morning commute. All westbound lanes reopened at about 8:30 a.m., after a closure that lasted roughly six hours.

Cause Remained Under Investigation

The updated crash report said witnesses heard the impact from nearby homes and that the truck driver survived. Investigators had not determined why the Kia entered the freeway in the wrong direction or released information about possible alcohol or drug involvement.

CHP continued to investigate the sequence of impacts and the Kia’s route onto the westbound roadway. Autopsies were pending, and the agency had not released a final collision report or identified the hospitalized person by Friday morning.