2 Teenagers Killed, 1 Injured In Fiery RivCo Crash

RIVERSIDE, CA — Two teenagers died and one was injured in a fiery traffic collision in Riverside in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning, authorities said.

Around 5:40 a.m., law enforcement received reports of a vehicle fire and a traffic collision that occurred on Wood Road, north of Van Buren Boulevard.

When Riverside Police officers arrived on the scene with paramedics from the Riverside Fire Department, the discovered two vehicles that had been involved in a crash with one of them on fire.

After the fire was put out, two people were found dead inside, the Riverside Police Department reported.

An investigation revealed that a gray Lexus sedan was traveling north on Wood Road at a high rate of speed when it ran a red light at Van Buren Boulevard. A blue Scion was traveling west on Van Buren on a green light when it crashed into the speeding Lexus at the intersection.

The Lexus continued northbound, hitting a cement light pool, a wood electrical pole and a tree before coming to a stop and igniting on fire.

Alcohol, drugs and driving speed are suspected factors in the collision, police said.

The driver of the Scion remained at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement. He was not injured.

There were three people inside the Lexus. A 17-year-old male driver and an 18-year-old woman were pronounced dead at the scene. A 17-year-old boy who was another passenger sustained serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

The identities of the two teenagers will be released after their families are notified.

Anyone with information about the crash was urged to call Traffic Detective Amanda Beeman at 951-826-8723 or email ABeeman@RiversideCA.gov.