Two people killed in a two-vehicle wreck at a Winchester intersection that also injured three others and sheared a fire hydrant were identified Thursday.
Israel Bermudez, 25, of Buena Park and Paloma Casares, 32, of Hemet were fatally injured about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday at Leon Road and Domenigoni Parkway.
According to the California Highway Patrol, a tractor-trailer and a Dodge SUV impacted in the eastbound lanes of Domenigoni, causing the SUV to spin into a hydrant.
The specific cause of the collision was still under investigation Thursday.
Riverside County Fire Department paramedics pronounced Bermudez and Casares, who were in the SUV, dead at the scene.
Officials said that two other occupants suffered moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment, while the trucker escaped with minor injuries and declined treatment.
Eastbound lanes were completely shut down until late Wednesday afternoon because of the crash, which caused 50 gallons of diesel and oil from the big rig to spill onto the roadway and flow into storm drains, according to the fire department.
A hazardous materials unit conducted a clean-up operation.
The CHP said the hydrant was completely dislodged, sending a geyser of water 80 feet into the air. Eastern Municipal Water District personnel capped the broken device.