Two people killed when a tractor-trailer slammed into their sedan on the south side of Lake Mathews were identified Wednesday.
Dale D’Elia of Perris and Ashley Slater of Norco, both 32, were both pronounced dead at the scene of the head-on crash, which occurred about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday on Cajalco Road, just west of La Sierra Avenue.
California Highway Patrol Officer Juan Quintero said the victims were in a Toyota Scion XB going east on Cajalco when they encountered a big rig coming from the opposite direction, driven by 26-year-old Singh Harjeetpal of Alberta, Canada.
“The preliminary investigation revealed Harjeetpal failed to negotiate the right curvature in the road and allowed the semi to cross over the eastbound lane of Cajalco, directly in the path of the Toyota,” Quintero said. “As a result, the truck collided with the Toyota head-on.”
The trucker, who was not hurt, was questioned by officers and released pending further investigation, according to Quintero.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the CHP’s Riverside office at 951-637-8000.