Preliminary reports indicate that four to five vehicles were involved in the pile-up. The vehicles collided in the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 under unclear circumstances
Lake Elsinore, CA – The authorities have released the name of a woman who was killed in a deadly multi-vehicle crash on I-15 in Lake Elsinore that occurred on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased woman was identified on Wednesday as, Emily Rew, a 37-year-old San Diego woman.
Four other people were injured in the incident that happened moments before 4 p.m. on March 24, 2026, near Main Street.
Investigators said the incident began when a gray Toyota Tacoma, operated by a 32-year-old Perris man, rear-ended a green Kia Niro, operated by the San Diego woman.
The impact pushed the Kia into the No. 2 lane, coming directly into the path of a white Dodge Ram truck operated by a 50-year-old man from Los Angeles. The truck crashed into the Kia, then collided with a red Toyota Highlander operated by a 69-year-old Lake Elsinore man, and finally with a black Honda Accord driven by a 38-year-old Murrieta woman.
The driver of the Tacoma and that of the Highlander were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The other two drivers sustained minor injuries but remained at the scene.
Original Story
Lake Elsinore, CA – A tragic collision involving multiple vehicles on Interstate 15 in Lake Elsinore left one person dead and sent three others to a hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the wreck took place shortly before 4 p.m. on March 24, near Main Street.
Preliminary reports indicate that four to five vehicles were involved in the pile-up. The vehicles collided in the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 under unclear circumstances.
The Riverside County Fire Department crews and the CHP officers arrived at the scene a few minutes later and located a trapped party in one of the vehicles. Firefighters worked to extricate the trapped victim.
Despite efforts to save them, the extricated person was declared deceased at the scene. Their identity is yet to be released by the authorities.
Medics transported three patients to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment of their injuries. One of the patients had major injuries, while the other two were being treated for minor injuries.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputies and the Murrieta Police Department officers were requested to assist the CHP and Riverside County Fire officials at the scene.
Debris was scattered across the northbound lanes of I-15, necessitating the closure of multiple lanes except one for at least three hours as authorities worked to clear the scene.
The California Highway Patrol officers are currently looking into the incident, and the leading causes of the wreck are yet to be released.
Lake Elsinore, a growing Riverside County city with heavy traffic on Interstate 15 and local routes like SR-74, records hundreds of injury-involved traffic collisions annually, far outnumbering fatalities. According to the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) data, the city saw approximately 211 crash-related injuries and fatalities in 2023, reflecting a five-year annual average fatality/injury rate of around 211.8. Alcohol-impaired crashes contributed significantly, with 32 deaths and injuries that year alone. Thousands of minor and property-damage incidents occur regionally, but severe and visible injuries dominate reports on freeways and arterials. Common causes of these accidents include speeding, DUI, distractions, and hit-and-run accidents, often affecting motorists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. Recent major injury collisions in 2025 underscore ongoing risks. Local enforcement and Vision Zero-aligned efforts aim to reduce these through targeted patrols and infrastructure improvements, though rates remain concerning amid population growth.
If your loved one was tragically killed in a car accident, you may deserve justice and full compensation. Contact a wrongful death attorney for legal guidance.