Three Killed in I-10 in Whitewater Crash

WHITEWATER (CNS) – Two girls and a woman were killed today in a crash
on eastbound Interstate 10 near Haugen Lehmann Way in the Whitewater area.

The crash was reported at 7:27 a.m. Sunday in the eastbound lanes near
Haugen Lehmann Way, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Investigators determined that a 2022 Tesla Model 3, driven by a 31-
year-old Indio man was eastbound on I-10 west of Haugen Lehmann in the No. 3
lane and a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban, driven by a 39-year-old man from Anaheim,
was traveling the same direction in the No. 2 lane when they collided, causing
the driver of the SUV to lose control and crash into the center divider and
overturn, ejecting six occupants, and partially ejecting another.

Some of the SUV occupants — all of whom were related, and all Anaheim
residents — were not believed buckled in, according to California Highway
Patrol Officer Jason Montez.

Three female occupants of the Suburban were pronounced dead at the
scene, ages 10, 12 and 31. Four other occupants of the SUV suffered major
injuries, including a 3-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl
and a 15-year-old boy. The driver suffered moderate injuries and a 41-year-old
front passenger suffered minor injuries, Montez said.

The driver and sole occupant of the Tesla was uninjured, he said.

An air ambulance carried two of the injured victims to a trauma
center, where they were being treated for major injuries, he said.

Interstate 10 eastbound was closed at Main Street until 3 p.m., when
the left two lanes were reopened, according to the CHP. All lanes were reopened
by 3:30 p.m.

This accident is an ongoing investigation.

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