Two people were killed in three, consecutive crashes on the Riverside (91) Freeway in Fullerton, the California Highway Patrol said Sunday, and drunken driving is suspected in at least two of the fatal crashes.
A passenger in one of the vehicles, identified as Guadalupe Ramirez, 21, of Lynwood, was killed 90 minutes after the first fatal crash blocked freeway lanes.
The first wreck was reported at 1:28 a.m. Saturday on the westbound 91 near Brookhurst Street, according to a California Highway Patrol dispatcher.
A woman driving a Toyota Corolla rear-ended a large truck, causing the Toyota to become disabled in the number three lane, the CHP reported.
The Toyota was struck from behind by a Ford Freestar van. The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene and no other injuries were reported.
The coroner was called in at 1:45 a.m. Saturday, the woman’s name has not been released.
About a mile in advance to that crash, and while CHP officers were on the freeway, two cars crashed, people in both those vehicles were taken to hospitals.
And just before 3 a.m., a third violent crash happened on the same westbound freeway, approaching Brookhurst Street, and involving two vehicles.
Ramirez, a passenger in one of those vehicles, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Paramedics rushed two people to an area hospital, where their conditions were not immediately known, according to a fire dispatcher.
Due to the multiple crashes, the westbound freeway, at Euclid Street remained closed until approximately 7:30 a.m. Saturday, the CHP reported.
–City News Service