3 Dead In Fiery 8-Vehicle Crash In San Bernardino County: Police

RIALTO, CA — A fiery, eight-vehicle crash in Rialto left three people dead, including a woman and girl who became trapped inside a burning SUV, police said.

A black Jeep Cherokee speeding east on Valley Boulevard sideswiped a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck near Willow Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Monday, witnesses told police. The Jeep continued speeding and swerving on Valley Boulevard and careened into the back of a Kia Sorento that was stopped at a red light at Riverside Avenue.

The impact sent the Kia into the back of a Honda. Four more vehicles were subsequently involved in the wreck, police said.

The Kia and Honda burst into flames, police said. Officers arrived minutes later and found both vehicles consumed in flames and several other vehicles damaged.

Officers tried to pull out a woman and child who were trapped inside the burning Kia Sorento as other officers and bystanders tried to extinguish the blaze. They were unsuccessful, police said.

The Rialto Fire Department arrived, extinguished the flames and gave medical aid to the other people.

The Jeep driver and the woman and girl in the Kia all died at the scene. Two other drivers were taken to hospitals and were expected to survive their injuries.

The names of the dead will be withheld until their families can be notified.

Police asked that anyone with information about the crash contact Sgt. Dan Smith at 909-644-6025. Witnesses can also anonymously report information through WeTip at (800) 782-7463, reference case No. 932208834.