Drugs appear to be a factor in fatal collision

A five-car collision on Railroad Canyon Rd. at the main gate left one man dead and several others injured last week. Two drivers were trapped in their vehicles and had to be rescued. Four patients were transported by ground ambulance to area hospitals.

The driver causing the accident, who was not the fatality, is suspected by police to have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.

Deputies from the Canyon Lake Police Department, along with the Menifee Police Department, responded to a multi-vehicle collision on Railroad Canyon Rd. on Thursday, Nov. 2, at approximately 6:28 p.m. Deputies arrived on scene within minutes and learned five vehicles had been involved in the collision.

According to a witness at the scene, a white truck was traveling westbound on Railroad Canyon Rd. at a high rate of speed and without breaking struck a silver Toyota Prius from behind, pushing it into another vehicle. The Prius was stopped at the red light at the intersection of Railroad Canyon Rd. and Canyon Lake Dr. South.

Fourteen firefighters from three engine companies and one truck company responded to the call. The drivers of the truck and Prius were trapped inside their vehicles and had to be rescued by CalFire/Riverside County Fire personnel.

Four people were transported by ground ambulance to area hospitals. Two patients had serious injuries, two had minor injuries.

One of the drivers was later pronounced deceased at the hospital, said the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office report. The victim’s name was not released, pending notification to next of kin by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.

“The preliminary investigation revealed a vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed westbound on Railroad Canyon Rd. The driver did not slow down and struck several vehicles who were stopped for the red light at the intersection,” said the sheriff’s report.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Deputy Grimm of the Perris Station Traffic Team at 951-210-1000.




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