A devastating two-vehicle crash in Perris on Saturday evening left one person dead and several others hospitalized, turning a busy Southern California roadway into the scene of a major emergency response.
The crash happened at approximately 5:40 p.m. Saturday near East Rider Street and Ramona Expressway, according to officials with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, as reported by CBS Los Angeles.
When deputies arrived, they found both vehicles involved in the collision. One of the cars had caught fire, but firefighters with Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department quickly extinguished the flames.
Six people were transported to a nearby hospital following the crash. Authorities initially reported that four people were in critical condition, while two others were listed as stable.
One of the people taken to the hospital later succumbed to their injuries, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
The identity of the person who died has not been publicly released in the information available. Authorities have also not confirmed additional details about the victims’ ages or relationships.
No arrests have been reported in connection with the crash. The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation.
Officials have not publicly established in the information provided whether alcohol or drugs played a role in this particular crash, so claims describing the incident as a confirmed DUI crash should be treated cautiously until investigators release additional findings.
The fatal collision has left a community mourning while the surviving victims and their families face a difficult recovery.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to release additional information about what led to the crash and the identity of the person who died.