2 Teens Killed in 2-Vehicle Crash Involving Fire in Riverside

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Nov. 3 (KNN) — Two teenagers were killed in a fiery crash and one seriously injured after a collision with another vehicle in a Riverside intersection early Saturday morning, according to the Riverside Police Department.

The crash occurred around 5:40 a.m. at the intersection of Wood Road and Van Buren Boulevard. Multiple callers reported the traffic collision, stating a car was on fire.

Riverside police officers and firefighter/paramedics with the Riverside Fire Department arrived and located one of the involved vehicles engulfed in fire. After firefighters doused the flames, two people were found deceased inside the car.

The Riverside Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded and assumed the traffic collision investigation, assisted by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, according to the RPD’s press release of the incident.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a gray Lexus was traveling north on Wood Road at a high rate of speed when the driver ran a red light at Van Buren Boulevard. A blue Scion was traveling west on Van Buren on a green light and collided with the Lexus in the intersection, according to the release.

After the impact, the Lexus continued northbound, striking a cement light pole, a wooden electrical pole and a tree before stopping and igniting into flames.

Three occupants were inside the Lexus; a 17-year-old male driver and an 18-year-old female passenger were pronounced dead at the scene, and a 17-year-old male passenger sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, reported the RPD. The identities of the two deceased teens will be released by the Coroner’s Office pending notification of family members.

The RPD said that alcohol and drugs are suspected factors that contributed to this collision, as well as vehicle speed.

Anyone with additional information related to this collision is urged to contact Traffic Detective Amanda Beeman at (951) 826-8723 or ABeeman@RiversideCA.gov.

Marc Danielian, Video Journalist / KNN