Victims identified in deadly Beaumont crash
Two people died, and two others were injured in a wrong-way crash on state Route 60 between Beaumont and Moreno Valley before dawn today.
According to the Riverside County Fire Department, the crash was reported at 3:37 a.m. near Jack Rabbit Trail in the Badlands area.
The California Highway Patrol said a 28-year-old Hemet woman in a Hyundai Sonata was driving eastbound in the freeway's westbound lanes at about 90 mph when her vehicle slammed into a Chevrolet Malibu with two occupants, according to the CHP.
She died at the scene and was identified as Eva Lopez Gonzalez, according to the Riverside County coroner's office.
The Malibu was on its way from Palm Springs to Pico Rivera and was driven by a 49-year-old Pasadena man. He also died at the scene, the CHP said.
He was identified as Thomas Antral, the coroner's office said. The Malibu's passenger, a 40-year-old Pico Rivera man, was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
A fourth person suffered minor injuries but declined medical care, fire officials said. It was unclear why Gonzalez was speeding in the wrong direction, and authorities said the crash was under investigation.
The 60 Freeway had reopened after being closed for construction work prior to the collision. Westbound lanes were shut down again while emergency crews responded to the crash, but all lanes reopened by 7:30 a.m.
