A tragic sequence of events unfolded on the 215 Freeway in Riverside, where a suspected DUI driver collided with another vehicle in a fatal wrong-way crash. The incident occurred near Central Avenue around 12:20 a.m., prompting the closure of all southbound lanes for nearly five hours before they were reopened at around 5:15 a.m., ABC 7 reported.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) was first notified of the dangerous situation when a Mitsubishi Galant sedan, driven by a 20-year-old from Moreno Valley, was spotted going southbound in the northbound lanes of the 215 Freeway near Cactus Avenue. Efforts to intercept the vehicle were in motion, as the sedan narrowly missed several vehicles before ultimately striking a Toyota Camry head-on near the Central Avenue exit, according to information obtained by KTLA.
The crash resulted in the death of Raulder Sotelo, the 32-year-old Riverside man who was behind the wheel of the Camry. Sotelo was declared dead at the scene, while the wrong-way driver was left with major injuries and was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment. While the suspect’s identity has not been disclosed, authorities have indicated that alcohol and/or drugs appear to have played a part in the crash. This detail adds a sorrowful note to the already grim fallout of the event.
Investigators are currently delving deeper into the crash circumstances, seeking assistance from anyone with further details. "The Mitsubishi continued wrong way in southbound lanes with several misses with other vehicles," the CHP stated in a news release acquired by CBS News Los Angeles. Furthermore, law enforcement is asking witnesses or those with pertinent information to reach out to CHP's Accident Investigation Unit, as the investigation is ongoing.
