Coroner IDs 2 People Killed In I-15 Multi-Car Crash Overnight

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Two victims of a late-night multi-car crash were identified by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Coroner's Bureau Thursday morning.

Nicholas Lanni, a 34-year-old Norco man, died at the scene of the crash, according to the coroner's report.

Gene Kittiko, a 79-year-old resident of Ontario, survived the crash but was pronounced dead at Inland Valley Medical Center just after midnight.

Both of their families were notified, according to the coroner's bureau.

Just after 10 p.m. Wednesday, four cars collided while heading northbound on I-15, just south of Indian Truck Trail, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokesperson Maggie De La Rosa. Emergency responders noted all cars involved in the crash sustained major damage, and blocked at least two freeway lanes.

A gray sedan struck the center divider, inciting the four-vehicle crash, according to CHP logs.

One driver, later identified as Lanni, was found unresponsive at the scene. CHP officers provided CPR until the firefighters arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Four other people were injured, one seriously, and all were taken to nearby hospitals by multiple ambulances, De La Rosa said.

The critically injured man, later identified as Kittiko, succumbed to his injuries about two hours later, according to the coroner's report.

A SIG Alert was issued for the northbound I-15, and traffic was affected until after 1 a.m. Thursday.

California Highway Patrol's Inland Division was investigating the crash.