A 37-year-old man was killed and three other people were injured in a multi-vehicle collision near downtown Riverside triggered by a suspected drunken driver, authorities said Thursday.
The wreck occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Market and Fifth streets, according to the Riverside Police Department.
Sgt. Emilio Angulo said a motorist at the wheel of a Dodge Challenger was going southbound on Market at a “high rate of speed” when he slammed into the rear of a slower moving Honda Civic, pushing the sedan into northbound lanes.
“The Honda collided head-on with a vehicle traveling northbound on Market,” Angulo said. “The Dodge continued and collided with another vehicle as it came to rest.”
He said the man driving the Dodge attempted to flee the scene but was quickly detained by patrol officers who converged on the location moments later. The man, whose identity was not immediately released, was believed to be under the influence, according to the sergeant.
Christian Barragan of Riverside, who had been driving the Honda, was taken to Riverside Community Hospital in grave condition. He succumbed to his injuries less than an hour later.
The Dodge driver and the other two motorists involved the wreck suffered minor to moderate injuries and were taken to the same hospital for treatment. They were expected to recover, authorities said.
The intersection was completely shut down by the police department’s Major Accident Investigation Team for several hours while a preliminary investigation was conducted and the wreckage was cleared.
Anyone with information about the accident was asked to contact the MAIT investigators at 951-826-8771.