Details Released In Deadly I-215 Chain-Reaction Crashes

RIVERSIDE, CA — The coroner released the identity of a woman killed early Tuesday on Interstate 215.

Alexandra Rey, 36, of Rialto died just after 2 a.m. in apparent chain-reaction crashes on the northbound side of the freeway, just north of the 60/91 interchange.

Officer Javier Navarro told City News Service that four collisions involving seven vehicles occurred in quick succession, arising from circumstances still under investigation.

The crashes began about 2 a.m. on northbound I-215 and ended less than 10 minutes later, backing up traffic.

"The drivers of a 2014 Kenworth tractor-trailer and a 2023 Nissan sedan were stopped in traffic," Navarro said. "The driver of a 2009 Mercury SUV, for unknown reasons, failed to see the stopped vehicles ahead and crashed into the rear of the semi, then into the back of the Nissan."

The Mercury driver, later identified as Rey, was pronounced dead at the scene by Riverside Fire Department paramedics minutes later.

The trucker and the Nissan driver suffered minor injuries but did not require hospitalization. Information about other motorists was unavailable.

It was not immediately known whether alcohol or drugs were factors in any of the wrecks.

All lanes on northbound I-215 were open by 5:30 a.m.

—City News Service contributed to this report.