Head-On-Crash Halts Traffic East Of Temecula On SR 371: 2 Seriously Injured

AGUANGA, CA — A head-on crash critically injured two motorists on the eastern edge of Aguanga Thursday. Cal Fire/Riverside County Firefighters used the jaws of life to extricate both victims, and the State Route 371 crash was shut down during the incident response.

Eastbound traffic was halted for the emergency responders and the CHP investigation of the crash scene, and would remain that way for "several hours," CHP said.

Shortly before 12:30 p.m., witnesses called 911 reporting the crash on the two-lane corridor just east of Puckit Drive, near the Cahuilla Indian Reservation, a department spokesperson said. Multiple engine crews arrived to find the two vehicles smashed together in the middle of the roadway.

"Both vehicles were heavily damaged in the crash," CHP dispatch reported.

Firefighters initiated a cut-and-rescue operation that freed one driver 20 minutes later. At the same time, the second motorist was extricated from the wreckage about 1:10 p.m., according to reports from the scene.

For reasons still under investigation, the driver of a northbound red Toyota Corolla heading towards Indio on SR-371 collided with a white Chevy Impala, heading southbound on SR-371, California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Lassig said. "In the preliminary investigation, it appears that the Toyota may have crossed over into the opposing lane, and collided head-on with the white Impala."

The victims, both men whose identities were not disclosed, were the only occupants of the vehicles.

According to Cal Fire spokesperson Karina Espinoza, they were taken by ambulance to nearby Lake Riverside Airport, a private field to which emergency services personnel have 24-hour access.

The drivers each suffered "significant life-threatening injuries" and were airlifted from the scene. One driver was airlifted to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, the other was airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Lassig told Patch.

"Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the cause of the crash at this time," Lassig said. Temecula Area CHP was conducting the investigation.

During the incident, California Highway Patrol officers and sheriff's deputies shut down SR-371 in both directions due to the wreck. As of 2 p.m., he eastbound closure was expected to last most of Thursday afternoon and westbound traffic through the area was slow to stalled, as tow trucks were called to clear the roadways.

The cause of the collision was under investigation.