Coroner IDs Man Killed In I-15, Cajalco Road Crash In Corona

CORONA, CA — A 68-year-old Banning man was killed Thursday and another critically injured in a two-vehicle collision on southbound Interstate 15 in Corona.

Wilfredo Lopez was identified as the victim who died at the scene, Riverside County Coroner's Office reported.

Shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday, two vehicles collided on southbound I-15 at Cajalco Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

For reasons that remain under investigation, a pickup truck and sedan struck each other near the Cajalco off-ramp. The smaller vehicle overturned, ejecting Lopez onto the roadway. According to the Corona Fire Department, another person in that vehicle was also hurt.

Witnesses stopped and assisted Lopez, performing CPR until Corona Fire Department paramedics reached the location less than 10 minutes later.

Medics attempted resuscitative measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene just after 1 p.m., according to the CHP.

A second victim was taken to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

The CHP shut down the Cajalco exit lane and off-ramp due to the amount of wreckage to clear and investigating officers.

The CHP said the closure caused a traffic jam stretching back roughly two miles. During the investigation, traffic through the area was bogged down for much of the afternoon.