A 25-year-old Riverside County man was killed in a wrong-way collision involving a big rig on the 91 Freeway in Corona over the weekend, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities said the crash occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. on State Route 91 just west of Green River Road. CHP investigators determined that a black Ford F-150 entered the freeway via an off-ramp and proceeded eastbound in the westbound lanes.
As the Ford continued traveling in the wrong direction, it crossed paths near Serfas Club Drive and collided head-on with a white Volvo tractor-trailer.
The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 25-year-old Abel Quintero of Lake Elsinore, was pronounced dead at the scene by Corona Fire Department paramedic personnel. Officials confirmed that the driver of the semi-truck, a 20-year-old resident of Moreno Valley, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
CHP also reported that debris from the impact struck a Mercedes-Benz traveling in the vicinity at the time of the crash. The driver of that vehicle was not injured.
Investigators stated that, at this stage, it remains unknown whether alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor in the collision. The circumstances surrounding how the vehicle entered the freeway in the wrong direction are still under investigation.
The California Highway Patrol continues to examine evidence and is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has additional information to come forward. Tips can be provided by contacting the CHP office at 951-324-7210.
This tragic incident marks another fatal wrong-way crash on Southern California freeways, underscoring ongoing concerns about highway safety and the dangers posed by vehicles traveling against traffic flow.
