Riverside, California: Three Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on 91 Freeway, Westbound Lanes Closed
A suspected wrong-way driver hit two vehicles and a big rig on the westbound 91 Freeway near 14th Street in Riverside early Thursday, killing three people at the scene and closing every westbound lane into the morning commute, the California Highway Patrol said.
Key points
- Three people were killed early Thursday when a suspected wrong-way driver crashed into other vehicles on the westbound 91 Freeway in Riverside, California, and the California Highway Patrol closed…
- The crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. east of 14th Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.
- The collision involved three vehicles: a big rig, a black sedan and a white SUV.
Three people were killed early Thursday when a suspected wrong-way driver crashed into other vehicles on the westbound 91 Freeway in Riverside, California, and the California Highway Patrol closed every westbound lane near 14th Street for hours.
The crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. east of 14th Street, according to the California Highway Patrol. Witnesses first reported a vehicle traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes near University Avenue at a high rate of speed and swerving between other vehicles, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported, citing the highway patrol.
Three vehicles, three dead at the scene
The collision involved three vehicles: a big rig, a black sedan and a white SUV. Video from the scene showed the black sedan with heavy front-end damage facing the wrong way in the freeway lanes, part of its driver side covered by a yellow tarp, and a badly damaged light-colored SUV against the concrete barrier on the shoulder, with the big rig stopped nearby.
A highway patrol dispatcher said three people died at the scene. ABC 7 reported that officers found several of the dead inside the black sedan, which it identified as a BMW. The white SUV overturned onto its side in the crash, according to reports from the scene.
A fourth person was taken by ambulance to a hospital. The highway patrol had not released that person's condition, and an on-scene news videographer reported the injuries were unknown.
Authorities have not released the names of the three people killed, and they have not confirmed which vehicles each of them was riding in. It is also not yet clear what led to the suspected wrong-way driving, and the crash remains under investigation.
Freeway closed into the morning commute
Officials issued a SIG Alert and closed all westbound lanes of the 91 Freeway along with the 14th Street onramp while crews cleared debris from the roadway. Caltrans District 8 warned drivers to expect impacts through the morning on the westbound lanes near 14th Street and urged motorists to seek alternate routes, with no estimated time given at first for a full reopening.
The 91 Freeway is the main westbound route through Riverside toward Corona and Orange County, and traffic was still heavily backed up at 6:40 a.m., hours after the crash. Maintenance crews worked at the scene alongside highway patrol officers while the investigation continued.
Anyone checking conditions before traveling through the area can use the Caltrans QuickMap service for the latest freeway status.
Timeline
- Nov 12, 2026Shortly after 2 a.m., witnesses report a vehicle traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of the 91 Freeway near University Avenue in Riverside at high speed, and a three-vehicle crash follows east of 14th Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.
- Nov 12, 2026A highway patrol dispatcher confirms three people died at the scene, and a fourth person is taken to a hospital by ambulance.
- Nov 12, 2026Officials issue a SIG Alert and close all westbound lanes of the 91 Freeway and the 14th Street onramp; traffic is still heavily backed up at 6:40 a.m. as the investigation continues.