A head-on collision at a Hemet intersection involving a motorist from Costa Mesa suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol killed one person and injured two others, according to police.
Investigators determined that a Honda Civic was heading south on Sanderson Avenue, approaching Acacia Avenue in the Riverside County town of Hemet, when it crossed the double yellow lines and collided head-on with a Hyundai Santa Fe that was attempting to make a left turn onto Sanderson Avenue, the sergeant said.
The driver of the Honda, a 36-year-old Costa Mesa man, was seriously injured and hospitalized, and later died due to his injuries, according to Reinbolt.
A passenger in the Honda was also hospitalized in critical but stable condition, and the driver of the Hyundai, a 61-year-old Simi Valley resident, was hospitalized in stable condition, according to Reinbolt.
The crash occurred at 4:37 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Sanderson and Acacia avenues, said Sgt. Dan Reinbolt of the Hemet Police Department.
The identity of the Honda’s driver was withheld pending notification of his family.
“There were signs the driver of the Honda may have been under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol,” Reinbolt said.
–City News Service