3 Killed In RivCo Wrong-Way Crash ID’d As Details Of Terrifying Preceding Minutes Emerge

RIVERSIDE, CA — Three people killed in a wrong-way crash on the 91 Freeway in Riverside that triggered a massive traffic jam were identified on Friday.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department Coroner's Bureau identified the deceased as Carey Alison, 41, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Ana Ruiz, 42, of Garden Grove; and Rogelio Ruiz, 42, of Garden Grove.

The crash occurred shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday when witnesses reported an SUV traveling at a high rate of speed in the wrong direction on the freeway east of 14th Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

RELATED: 3 Killed In 91 Freeway Wrong Way Crash

CHP Officer Javier Navarro said a man allegedly drove his Kia Sportage onto the 91 Freeway, possibly entering at Madison Street, intending to go eastbound, but ending up in the No. 2 lane on the westbound side of the freeway, facing oncoming traffic.

Multiple drivers reported the wrong-way driver, and CHP officers began searching for the Kia moments later, Navarro said.

He said roughly eight minutes after the initial 911 calls, the compact SUV "crashed head-on with a Volkswagen Jetta.''

"The impact caused the VW to overturn, and while it was still in motion, a semi truck struck the car,'' Navarro said.

A fourth person was transported to a hospital by ambulance. The person's condition and the extent of their injuries were not immediately known.

The CHP issued a SigAlert for the westbound lanes for about six hours. The closure caused significant traffic delays during the morning commute.

Authorities have not said why the vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction.

No additional information was immediately available.

City News Service contributed to this report.