A roll-over crash on Highway 371 in Anza that killed a 34-year-old woman passenger and injured one of her two small children was triggered when the driver over-corrected after drifting onto the shoulder, causing the vehicle to veer across lanes and plunge down an embankment, authorities said Monday.
Leslie Schotz of Idyllwild was fatally injured about 1:30 p.m. Friday after the sedan she was in rolled down a 100-foot hill on the 371, just west of Burnt Valley Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officer Jason Montez told City News Service that the vehicle, being driven by Schotz’s 36-year-old husband, whose name was not disclosed, was going about 40 mph in the westbound lane of the two-lane corridor, when the vehicle drifted onto the shoulder.
“The driver corrected to the left, and the vehicle traveled across both lanes, over to the eastbound side of the highway,” Montez said. “It hit a berm and then rolled down the embankment.”
The CHP spokesman said that Schotz, who possibly wasn’t wearing her seatbelt, appeared to have been ejected from the car.
Schotz’s husband extricated himself, his 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter from the vehicle and went to his wife’s aid, according to the CHP.
Riverside County Fire Department crews reached the location within 15 minutes and immediately began life-saving measures on the victim. Despite paramedics’ efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 2 p.m., according to coroner’s officials.
Montez said the 2-year-old suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a trauma center for treatment. She is expected to fully recover.
The girl’s brother was not hurt, nor was the children’s father, according to Montez.
The highway remained open, though fire engines obstructed the eastbound side, with CHP officers directing traffic around them for several hours.