According to the California Highway Patrol logs, the accident was reported on the southbound 215 Freeway at Central Avenue around 12:20 a.m., December 14.
Riverside, CA – At least one person died in a wrong-way collision that happened Wednesday morning on the 215 Freeway in Riverside.
According to the California Highway Patrol logs, the accident was reported on the southbound 215 Freeway at Central Avenue around 12:20 a.m., December 14.
The driver of a car was driving the wrong way, heading northbound in the southbound lanes, when they crashed. It was unclear whether the driver struck another vehicle.
At least one person died in the accident.
All southbound lanes of the freeway were shut down for several hours following the collision. The lanes were reopened around 5:15 a.m.
In 2023, the city of Riverside recorded 1,805 fatal and injury traffic collisions, placing it 6th among 15 similar-sized cities in California for crash frequency, with 159 crashes involving alcohol and 275 speed-related injury or fatal collisions. Pedestrians were involved in 113 collisions, and bicyclists in 62 during that year. Nighttime crashes (9 pm – 2:59 am) numbered 159, and there were 185 hit-and-run incidents reported. Riverside also had 500 DUI arrests linked to traffic incidents. City-level crash data show dozens of fatal accidents annually, with 35 fatalities in 2023 and 58 in 2022, illustrating year-to-year fluctuation in deadly collisions. Meanwhile, broader traffic safety analysis for Riverside County indicates that local roads see a high share of serious injury and fatal crashes, with young adult drivers (ages 25–34) disproportionately represented and key contributing factors including speeding, driving under the influence, and pedestrian violations. Fatal and serious injury collisions tend to peak in the afternoon and on weekends, and the county’s traffic fatality and serious injury rates have historically exceeded regional averages.
Seek Legal Help from Pacific Attorney Group
If you lost a loved one in this crash, a wrongful death attorney can help you answer all the legal questions concerning the accident. You can also visit our car accident death lawyer page to learn more about your legal options.