Drugs Suspected In Deadly Canyon Lake Crash: Police

CANYON LAKE, CA — A deadly crash in Canyon Lake early Thursday morning may have involved drugs, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department says. The crash involved a total of three vehicles and sent three people to the hospital — one of whom later died.

According to sheriff's and fire officials, the rash was reported at 6:50 a.m. Thursday near Vacation Drive and Yosemite Place. Paramedics arrived at the scene and cut at least one person free from the wreckage.

"Three people were transported to a local hospital, one with major injuries and two with minor injuries," the sheriff's department said in a news release. "One of the drivers, a 29 year-old Canyon Lake resident, was later pronounced deceased at the hospital."

Though the crash is still under investigation, preliminary findings indicate a vehicle was headed westbound on Vacation Drive when the driver veered head-on into oncoming traffic, according to the sheriff's department.

It's not clear why the driver may have swerved, but "at this time, drugs appear to be a factor in the collision," the sheriff's department said.

The person who died was not immediatly identified.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call Officer Fraley of the Perris Station Traffic Team at (951) 210-1000.

— Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone