A 3-month-old baby was killed and multiple other people were injured in a three-vehicle crash on the Escondido (215) Freeway in Riverside, authorities said Monday.
The crash was reported at 7:35 p.m. Sunday on the northbound Escondido Freeway south of Eucalyptus Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol.
According to investigators, a silver Honda Civic was stopped in the #1 lane when it was struck from behind by a silver Nissan Versa. A gray Toyota Rav 4 subsequently struck the rear of the Nissan, leaving the Nissan between the two vehicles.
The driver of the Toyota suffered moderate injuries, and was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
The male driver of the Nissan suffered major injuries and had to be extricated from the vehicle. A woman and a young girl in the Nissan suffered minor to moderate injuries. The 3-month-old child in the Nissan suffered fatal injuries, according to the CHP.
The occupants of the Honda complained of pain and an elderly passenger was taken to a hospital as a precaution, according to the CHP.
Investigators do not believe impairment was a factor in the crash.
Animal Control was summoned to take custody of a dog that was in one of the vechiles, the CHP stated, but it was unclear if the dog suffered any injuries or what vehicle it was traveling in.
A witness told OnScene.TV she and several other people ran to the crash scene and tried to assist the family in the Nissan, but they were unable to open the doors of the mangled car.
A SigAlert was issued at 8:06 p.m. shutting down all northbound lanes at Eucalyptus.
The lanes were reopened at about 11:45 p.m.