Six Hospitalized, Freeway Temporarily Closed as Three Cars Crash on I-10 in Redlands

A total of six people-- including a pregnant woman and two children-- were hospitalized Wednesday following an early morning crash on Interstate 10 in Redlands, fire officials reported.

The three-vehicle crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on the westbound side of I-10, between Wabash Avenue and Ford Street, according to Redlands Fire Department Spokesman Carl Baker. 


It's not clear how the crash happened, but a wrong-way driver is suspected to have played some role, according to Baker. 

Of the three involved vehicles-- two of them were so badly crushed that the occupants had to be cut out using the jaws of life, Baker said.

"One driver suffered major multi-system trauma and an obvious fracture to his left arm," Baker said in a press statement.   "The patient was extricated from the vehicle and transported to the trauma center at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for evaluation and treatment."

"The driver of a second vehicle told firefighters he was ejected from his vehicle onto the freeway and then hit by a passing car," Baker continued.  "He had an obvious fracture to one leg, and suffered multi-system trauma."

Also inside that second vehicle were a 33-week pregnant woman and two children-- who had to be cut out from the wreckage by firefighters, according to Baker.

"All four occupants were transported to the trauma center at Loma Linda University Medical Center for evaluation and treatment," he said, adding that none of them were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

The driver of the third involved vehicle was knocked unconscious in the collision, and was also taken to Loma Linda, Baker said.

According to Baker, all westbound lanes of I-10 were shut down in the area for about an hour while the scene was cleared.   California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash, he said.