The crash was reported around 2:40 p.m. on October 22 on Highway 79 near Horizon View Street.
Temecula, CA – Two people were killed and a semi-truck driver suffered minor injuries Thursday afternoon in a fiery head-on collision involving a big rig and an SUV on Highway 79 in Temecula, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash was reported around 2:40 p.m. on October 22 on Highway 79 near Horizon View Street.
Investigators said the crash happened when one of the vehicles crossed into opposing traffic lanes and collided with the other. Authorities had not confirmed which vehicle crossed the center line.
The SUV caught fire after the crash, trapping its two occupants inside. Both parties were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not been released.
The semi-truck driver managed to escape the rig and sustained minor injuries but declined ambulance transportation. Riverside County Fire Department crews responded and extinguished the fire.
The collision prompted a partial closure of Highway 79 as officers directed traffic and crews prepared to remove the wreckage. The semi-truck also leaked oil and other fluids, requiring hazardous materials cleanup. A SigAlert was issued at approximately 2:53 p.m.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.