2 Killed In Fiery Crash Involving Semi On Highway 79 In Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — A fiery crash involving a big rig and an SUV on Highway 79 in Temecula left two people dead and one person injured Thursday afternoon, officials said.

The head-on collision was reported around 2:40 p.m. on Highway 79 near Horizon View Street. The SUV was totaled in the collision and caught fire, according to the CHP incident log.

The agency stated that the tractor-trailer and SUV were traveling at unconfirmed speeds along the four-lane corridor, where it had been raining minutes earlier, and impacted after one of the vehicles crossed into opposing traffic lanes, though authorities couldn't immediately say which vehicle.

The wreck triggered a fire in the SUV, from which neither occupant escaped, according to the CHP.

The trucker safely self-extricated from his rig.

Riverside County Fire Department crews reached the location within a few minutes and extinguished the blaze. The two victims in the SUV were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities couldn't immediately be confirmed, including gender.

The trucker, also not identified, suffered unspecified minor injuries but declined an ambulance, according to reports from the scene.

The highway was partially shut down at the location, with officers directing traffic.

Along with the fire, the semi leaked oil and other fluids, requiring a hazardous materials cleanup. Removal of the wreckage was expected to take several hours Thursday afternoon.

At 2:53 p.m., a Sig Alert was issued for Highway 79 near Horizon View Street.

The CHP was investigating the crash.

No additional information was immediately available.

City News Service contributed to this report.