Fatal Crashes Mount This Week On The Ramona Expressway

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Two separate fatal crashes this week on the Ramona Expressway occurred in close proximity to one another and both are being blamed on high speed.

A two-vehicle crash Thursday night on the Ramona Expressway in the Lakeview area of Riverside County left one person dead, authorities confirmed.

It was reported about 10:30 p.m. approximately 1 mile west of Warren Road. When deputies arrived on scene they found two vehicles off the roadway, one overturned with its lifeless driver ejected. The other driver was unhurt, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Luis Ramirez, 32, of Hemet was later identified by the coroner's bureau as the deceased.

A preliminary crash investigation by the sheriff's department showed Ramirez was behind the wheel of an SUV heading east on the expressway at a "high rate of speed" when he rear-ended a minivan.

The impact caused both vehicles to lose control and veer off the road, killing Ramirez.

The crash investigation caused the temporary closure of the expressway, between Bridge Street and Warren Road.

A Monday morning head-on crash on the expressway left two people dead. The wreck was caused by a speeding driver who attempted to pass traffic, according to a preliminary investigation by the sheriff's department.

The 6:28 a.m. three-vehicle crash that was strewn across eastbound and westbound lanes occurred about 1.25 miles west of Warren Road in San Jacinto. It was triggered by a driver in a dark-colored SUV who was heading east on the expressway at a "high rate of speed," according to the sheriff's department.

The driver tried to pass a vehicle but struck the center median, went into oncoming traffic, and collided with a utility truck, the department reported. The impact caused the SUV to cross back into eastbound lanes, where it was hit by another vehicle.

The two people inside the SUV died at the scene, according to the sheriff's department. The coroner identified one of the occupants as 66-year-old Luis Bates of Artesia. It's not clear whether he was the driver or passenger. The identity of the second person killed was not released as of early Tuesday afternoon.

The drivers of the other two vehicles were transported to local hospitals with moderate injuries, the law enforcement agency said. No other injuries were reported.

The crash investigation required the temporary closure of Ramona Expressway, between Bridge Street and Sanderson Avenue.

Alcohol and/or drugs do not appear to be crash factors, according to the sheriff's department.